Drug poisoning deaths registered in England and Wales reached 5,519 last year, a rise of 55 per cent over the past decade, according to government data. Cocaine was the most frequently mentioned individual substance on death certificates for the first time since records began, linked to 1,233 deaths in 2025 — over eight times as many as in 2010.
Middle-aged users driving record deaths
People in their 40s are now three times more likely to die from drug poisoning than people in their 20s, the figures show. Those aged between 40 and 49 suffered the highest mortality rates at 147 deaths per million, while those aged 20 to 29 experienced a rate of 46 deaths per million.
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of all poisoning deaths were from the misuse of illegal drugs, claiming 3,615 lives — a 3 per cent drop on the previous year. Prescription medications, accidental poisonings and over-the-counter overdoses made up the remainder. Broader opioids, including heroin and methadone, were mentioned in 2,324 deaths, making them the deadliest overall substance group.
Regional and demographic trends
The North East recorded the highest drug poisoning mortality rate in England and Wales at 135 deaths per million people, an improvement from 168 per million in 2024. London recorded the lowest rate nationwide at 58.3 per million. The South West saw a 16.3 per cent jump to 96.5 deaths per million, while rates in the South East rose by 13.4 per cent.
Middlesbrough suffered the worst casualty rate of council areas, with 118 drug poisoning deaths registered between 2023 and 2025, including 27 last year — equivalent to 29 deaths per 100,000 residents. In Manchester, there were 66 drug poisoning deaths including 55 drug misuse deaths in 2025, down from 71 including 52 drug misuse deaths in 2024. The mortality rate per 100,000 from 2023 to 2025 was 15.1, higher than the national average of 9.
Experts warn on cocaine availability
Robin Pollard, of the drug and alcohol support charity WithYou, said cocaine has become cheaper, purer and far more easily available across Britain. 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."
Zaheen Ahmed, Head of Drug Therapy at national addiction treatment providers The UKAT Group, said: "While drug poisoning deaths have fallen nationally by a marginal 0.8%, that offers little comfort to communities where deaths are continuing to rise. 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."
