Deaths linked to cocaine have overtaken heroin for the first time, according to government figures. The substance claimed 1,233 lives last year, 1.9% more than heroin, which killed 1,210 people.
Some 5,519 drug poisoning deaths were registered in England and Wales overall, up 55% on a decade ago and the equivalent of 92.4 fatalities per million people.
Cocaine cheaper and more prevalent
Robin Pollard, of drug and alcohol support charity WithYou, warned that cocaine has become cheaper, purer, and far easier to obtain. He said: "Across almost all areas where WithYou deliver services, we hear that cocaine has become far more prevalent. Whereas before 2020, we typically would have seen the price of a gram of cocaine being around £100, it is much more common to hear it being available for £60 a gram or less now, and available to buy in ever smaller amounts."
He added: "It has also become easier to purchase in all parts of the country, has become increasingly socially acceptable, and of higher purity. We also know that cocaine use tends to be associated more with men, but they can be more hesitant to access support for their drug use."
"There is often a perception that there is no treatment for cocaine use, but there are many support options available, and anyone who is worried about their drug use, or that of someone close to them, we are here to help."
Age and regional patterns
People in their forties were hit hardest, with 147 registered deaths per million, while those in their twenties faced 46 deaths per million. Broader opioids, including heroin and methadone, remained the deadliest overall substance group, mentioned on 2,324 death certificates. Men accounted for the vast majority of fatalities, dying at more than double the rate of women.
Drug poisoning mortality rates remain highest in the North East, with 135 deaths per million people registered in 2025. London recorded the lowest rate nationwide at 58.3 per million. The South West saw a jump of 6.3% to 96.5 deaths per million, and rates in the South East rose by 13.4%. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, suffered the worst casualty rate in the country, recording 118 drug poisoning deaths between 2023 and 2025, including 27 in 2025 alone.
Call for action beyond national headlines
Zaheen Ahmed of national addiction treatment provider The UKAT Group said: "This is a stark reminder that the UK's drug crisis is far from over, and that where you live can determine the level of support available to you."
"The Government must look beyond the national headlines and act on the worsening picture in areas like this. A marginal national improvement means nothing to the communities still losing lives at an alarming rate. Every figure is a life lost and a devastated family, and we must never forget that."
