A team of experts has been set up to tackle the rising number of people in Medway who die as a result of taking drugs.

New data has revealed that there are twice as many drug-related deaths in the Towns than any other part of Kent.

In 2006 to 2008, there were 23 deaths which increased to 27 in 2009 to 2011. But in 2012 to 2014, this jumped to 41 deaths.

The figures complied by the Office for National Statistics show there has been a large increase in the number of people whose deaths involved an illegal substance.

The group, made up of health professionals, substance misuse charities and the police, will look at ways to tackle the issue.

A Medway Council spokesman said: “We are committed to introducing measures that contribute to the reduction of drug-related deaths in the area, and the public health team have recently set up a multi-agency panel to tackle the issue.

“The Drug Related Death Panel brings together public health, police, probation and charities Turning Point and Open Road.

“They meet regularly to review individual drug-related deaths and agree actions that could be taken to contribute to a reduction in the number of people who die as a result of taking drugs.”

Medway has always had the highest number of drug-related deaths in the county, but in the last two years had double the number anywhere else in Kent – the second highest is Swale with 20 deaths.

Although Medway has the largest population, the drug death rate is still the highest at 50.4 deaths per one million population – Swale has 47.9.

Rehman Chishti, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, said: “We need to do everything we can to reduce the number of people who abuse drugs.

“The government’s strategy is to reduce drug use and to help those who have become addicted to recover. The council and police have a role in tackling this issue locally and I will be contacting them to see what measures are being taken to address these figures.”

The figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year, and relate to those where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning and where a controlled drug was mentioned on the death certificate.