New record high drug deaths as nitazene opioid fatalities almost quadruple

Drug-related deaths have hit a new record high, with the number involving a powerful synthetic opioid almost quadrupling, according to official figures,

There were 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales last year, the Office for National Statistics said.

This was a 2.1% increase on the number registered in 2023 and is the highest number since records began in 1993.

Sir Richard Branson, who is a member of the Global Commission on Drugs, said the figures were “shocking” and that a “national crisis” was being worsened by dangerous synthetic opioids such as nitazenes.

The Virgin entrepreneur called for a “radical shift” in Government policy on drugs, indicating there should be more than just one safer drugs consumption room in the UK.

A total of 195 deaths registered last year involved nitazenes, a figure almost four times that of the 52 deaths registered in 2023.

These substances can be 100 times more potent than heroin and bring a high risk of overdose.

The statistics body also said figures for drug misuse and for specific substances are undercounts because in around a fifth of cases, no information is provided about the specific drug or drugs involved on a death registration form.

It added that because of delays, around half of the deaths registered in 2024 will have occurred in previous years.

David Mais, from the ONS, said: “We are seeing a small but continued increase in the rate of deaths relating to drug poisoning, with opioids and opiates, such as heroin and morphine, the drugs most commonly mentioned on death registrations.

“However, in a fifth of cases, no information is provided about the specific drug or drugs involved.

“The more information coroners can provide on registrations, the more detailed our analysis can be of the substances most associated with drug poisoning deaths.”

Deaths linked to cocaine were up 14.4% on the previous year, with 1,279 registered in 2024.

The ONS said cocaine remained the second-most used drug after cannabis in England and Wales over the past decade.

More than three-quarters of cocaine-linked deaths registered in 2024 were in males – 982 compared with 297 female deaths.

Heroin and morphine, which the ONS said are often indistinguishable in toxicology testing, remained the most frequently mentioned opiates and opioids in death registrations.

A total of 1,415 drug poisoning deaths mentioned either one of these substances in registrations in 2024.

Overall, there were 5,129 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England last year, up from 5,053 in 2023.

There were 417 drug-related deaths registered in Wales, an increase from 377 the previous year.

The north-east of England continued to have the highest rates of deaths relating to drug poisoning (167.6 deaths per million people) and drug misuse (107.1 per million) the ONS said.

The East of England had the lowest rates for drug poisoning and drug misuse – at 66.3 deaths per million people and 40.2 per million, respectively.

Of the 5,565 registered drug poisoning deaths in 2024, 3,736 were identified as drug misuse, meaning the underlying cause of death was drug abuse or drug dependence and/or the death involved a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Sir Richard, who has long argued that drug use should be treated as a health issue rather than a crime, said many such deaths are preventable and called for a policy shift to focus on “harm-reduction measures such as drug checking services and medically supervised drug consumption rooms”.

Referring to the UK’s first safer drugs consumption room which opened in Scotland in January, he said: “Over 100 of these facilities operate successfully in 18 countries – it’s hard to understand why only one such facility – The Thistle in Glasgow – exists in the UK.

“It’s time for a radical shift. When the opportunity to save countless lives is presented on a mountain of unambiguous evidence, nothing else should matter.”

The Turning Point charity, which helps people with substance abuse problems, called for increased availability of medication to be given in the event of opioid overdoses.

Chief operating officer Clare Taylor said: “Synthetic opioids continue to flow into the market.

“Lab-produced opioids pose a significant risk to life due to their potency and this is reflected in the fact that deaths related to nitazenes have increased four-fold compared to the previous year.

“We would like to see continuing efforts to increase availability of naloxone, a life-saving medication which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

“If Government is serious about tackling regional health inequalities, then proper investment in drug and alcohol treatment is needed.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “These figures provide a stark reminder of the dangers of drugs and the associated tragic loss of life.

“This Government is committed to cutting the number of drug-related deaths through treatment, advice and support and focusing on those deprived areas suffering most.

“This week we launched a new campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines and contaminated vapes.

“Through mission-driven Government we will continue to work with partners across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use, reduce harms and build a fairer Britain for all.”