Overview
- ONS data show 5,565 drug-poisoning deaths were registered in England and Wales in 2024, the twelfth consecutive annual rise.
- Nitazene-involved deaths rose from 52 to 195 in England and Wales in 2024, with a further 76 reported in Scotland, bringing the Great Britain total cited in coverage to 271.
- ONS cautioned that around one in five registrations lack specific drug details and many deaths registered in 2024 occurred earlier, which likely understates current patterns.
- Deaths mentioning heroin or morphine numbered 1,415, while cocaine deaths increased 14.4% year on year to 1,279, with men accounting for most cocaine-related fatalities.
- Rates varied by region, with the North East highest and the East of England lowest, as charities pressed for wider naloxone access and greater treatment investment.