The number of drugs-related deaths in Brighton has fallen from 51 in 2005 to 43 last year as the city battles to shake off its title of Britain's drugs death capital, figures reveal today.

From 2003 to 2005, the city had the highest number of drug deaths a year per 100,000 population in the whole of England and Wales.

Figures for the rest of the country will not be released until later in the year so it remains to be seen whether Brighton and Hove will have relinquished its dubious crown.

The figures, released by Brighton and Hove Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), show one person still dies every eight days from drug use in Brighton.

Graham Stevens, co-ordinator for DAAT, said: "These figures are encouraging.

In one sense they are smallish numbers but statistically a 16 per cent reduction is more than we have managed for a number of years.

"It is too early to say whether it's attributable to measures agencies have taken in the city. We know one or two drug deaths last year were people who were visiting the city for the weekend so whatever measures were being taken wouldn't have affected them."

"The figures are much lower in the rest of the county and the rest of the country. We don't know why.

"It could be homelessness, populations coming and going or service reaction. This is the sort of thing we are starting to pin down."

The national figures are published annually in July by St George's Hospital, London.

They are published later in the year, to account for inquests being held this year into deaths which occurred in 2006.

Deaths are defined as drug-related when the deceased had a history of drug use, if there was the presence of a controlled drug at post-mortem or at least one psychoactive substance is directly implicated in the death.

The breakdown of substances involved in 2005 deaths has not been released. Historically, the biggest cause has been heroin.

Superintendent Graham Bartlett, of Sussex Police, said: "Those 43 deaths are still 43 tragedies for families and friends of those who have died.

"We are pleased it's going in the right direction.

"We attribute it to the joint work between the Sussex Partnership Trust, DAAT and Sussex Police and their work on Operation Reduction."

Operation Reduction is a multiagency initiative which targets drug dealers and users.

They are given access to health care in a bid to prevent drug deaths and reduce drug-related crime.

Last year, The Argus reported Brighton and Hove was to take part in a controversial scheme which would provide heroin to a small group of drug addicts.

The trial was provisionally due to start in February but the date has now been pushed forward to the end of May.