THE number of drug-related mental health hospital admissions has increased dramatically in the past four years.

Poole has had a more than 40 per cent increase in such admissions since 2012/13. There were 205 individual episodes for mental illnesses or behaviour disorders where the main cause or a contributing factor was drugs between April 2016 and March 2017.

Admissions in Bournemouth have risen by 35 per cent over the same period, to 371 episodes in 2016/17.

In the wider county the picture is less dramatic, with a six per cent rise since four years ago, and actually a drop from the previous year by 63 admissions to 329 in 2016/17.

Charities have warned that these numbers could be due to high strength cannabis and amphetamines, which they say can cause or exacerbate schizophrenia, depression and psychosis.

Danielle Hamm, from Rethink Mental Illness, said: "Certain drugs have been known to prompt a mental illness for example strong cannabis known as skunk has been linked to schizophrenia.

"We also know that using drugs when you have a mental health problem can complicate your recovery, and can increase the likelihood of self-harm and suicide.

"We need more research on this, as it's a complex area and there are a myriad of reasons for the rise in people being admitted to hospital because of both drug and mental health problems over the last decade."

The NHS statistics also give the number of admissions for patients who have overdosed on illegal drugs, such as ecstasy or heroin.

They show that, by population, Bournemouth has one of the highest 'drug poisoning' rates in England, with 102 admissions in 2016/17, albeit a decrease of 15 on the previous year.

Compared with four years ago, when these records began, there has been a 76 per cent increase in hospital admissions for illegal drugs overdoses.

Poole's figures were 41 admissions over the same period, and Dorset had 90, with overall a slight decrease over the past four years.

Drugs tended to be a contributing factor for mental health issues, rather than the main cause.

There were only 44 cases in Bournemouth, 18 in Poole and 37 in Dorset where drugs were diagnosed as the primary reason for behaviour disorders.

The NHS England figures only indicate the number of admissions, not patients.

The data shows more men were admitted to hospital than women.

Of Bournemouth's admissions, 259 were men and 112 women. Of Poole's, 148 were men and 57 women. Of Dorset's, 235 were men and 94 women.

Ms Hamm added: "The most important thing is that people who are in need know where to go to get help, so we would encourage anyone who is worried about their mental health and their drug use to contact their GP."