Today the Office for National Statistics has released the latest data on deaths caused by drug poisonings. The data cover 2024, and confirm a concerning picture. There were 5,565 deaths registered as relating to drug poisoning across England and Wales, of which 3,736 were classified as relating to ‘drug misuse’. While the death rate remained relatively steady for the decade from 2003 to 2012, we have seen a concerning rise, such that the mortality rate across England and Wales is now around twice as high as it was in 2012.
Executive Director of Collective Voice, Dr Will Haydock, released the following statement:
Treatment saves lives
Every one of these deaths is a tragedy – and we should be doing more as a society to prevent them. We know that effective, evidence-based support can help people make changes and turn their lives around, benefitting not just themselves but their friends, family and the wider community. Treatment saves lives.[1]
Charities have shown they can deliver real impact when Government provides the necessary leadership and investment. Following investment and focus through an independent review and drugs strategy published in 2021, we are now supporting more people in treatment for issues with alcohol or other drugs than at any point since 2009-10.[2]
We also know that people leaving prison are at a higher risk of overdose, and so we have worked hard to improve continuity of care between prison and community: this has improved dramatically from 33% in 2019 to over 54% today.[3]
Government should enable charities to act now
But collectively we can and should be doing more. We have previously outlined specific actions that the Government could take now to enable charities to offer more effective support to people at risk of drug poisoning.[4] These include:
- widening availability of Naloxone, the antidote to overdoses from opioids like heroin;
- simplifying the licensing process for drug checking, so people know what they are taking and can plan accordingly;
- funding and supporting enhanced harm reduction centres so people have advice and support around them and if they overdose they can be treated, and their life can be saved.
Alongside these specific actions, we must ensure everyone has access to the right support for them, at the right time. This includes access to residential treatment and improving access to support while people are in prison.
Government must re-state its commitment to reducing harm from drugs
After multiple years of austerity in England, Dame Carol Black’s independent review set out a five-year programme of investment and delivery that was required to ensure people could access the support they need and deserve.[5]
Following the 2024 election, the new Government paused the planned investment programme, freezing funding at year three levels rather than continuing to follow the path laid out by the Independent Review.
The time has now come to press play once again on this invaluable work that saves lives and helps communities and the economy thrive, reducing pressure on the NHS, the criminal justice system and wider public services, including social care.
This is an urgent issue
We must not delay taking action on this fatal issue. The National Crime Agency has stated that ‘there has never been a more dangerous time to take drugs’,[6] and this is reflected in today’s statistics. Synthetic opioids have become increasingly common in the UK. Between June 2023 and June 2025, Government statistics state that there were at least 494 deaths involving potent synthetic opioids.[7]
Help is available in your local community
Our member charities provide support services across the country, so help is available in every local community free at the point of use. If you need support yourself, or you’re worried about someone else, then please do get in touch with your local service. You are not alone. Thousands of people like you are already accessing support across the country. Just search at: https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you
Read our response to the consultations on The Spending Review and The 10-year health plan.
Notes
[1] Sordo et al (2017) “Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies”, British Medical Journal, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1550
[2] The latest national figures on substance use treatment and recovery services show that more people are in treatment in the community than at any point since 2009-10, and progress is being made at an impressive rate, with 2023-24 seeing the largest rise in adults in treatment since 2008-09: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2023-to-2024/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2023-to-2024-report
[3] See https://www.ndtms.net/Monthly/ContinuityOfCare
[4] https://www.collectivevoice.org.uk/blog/the-governments-serious-approach-to-synthetic-opioids-is-welcome-but-it-can-do-more-to-provide-national-leadership/
[5] Independent Review of Drugs: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/independent-review-of-drugs-by-professor-dame-carol-black
[6] https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/there-has-never-been-a-more-dangerous-time-to-take-drugs-says-national-crime-agency-as-annual-threat-assessment-is-published?highlight=WyJjaGlsZCIsInRyYWZmaWNraW5nIl0=
[7] Latest figures on deaths related to synthetic opioids are available from the Drugs Early Warning System dashboard: https://www.ndtms.net/DrugsEarlyWarningSystem
Collective Voice calls on Government to prioritise reducing harm from drugs
Every one of these deaths is a tragedy – and we should be doing more as a society to prevent them.
Today the Office for National Statistics has released the latest data on deaths caused by drug poisonings. The data cover 2024, and confirm a concerning picture. There were 5,565 deaths registered as relating to drug poisoning across England and Wales, of which 3,736 were classified as relating to ‘drug misuse’. While the death rate remained relatively steady for the decade from 2003 to 2012, we have seen a concerning rise, such that the mortality rate across England and Wales is now around twice as high as it was in 2012.
Executive Director of Collective Voice, Dr Will Haydock, released the following statement:
Treatment saves lives
Every one of these deaths is a tragedy – and we should be doing more as a society to prevent them. We know that effective, evidence-based support can help people make changes and turn their lives around, benefitting not just themselves but their friends, family and the wider community. Treatment saves lives.[1]
Charities have shown they can deliver real impact when Government provides the necessary leadership and investment. Following investment and focus through an independent review and drugs strategy published in 2021, we are now supporting more people in treatment for issues with alcohol or other drugs than at any point since 2009-10.[2]
We also know that people leaving prison are at a higher risk of overdose, and so we have worked hard to improve continuity of care between prison and community: this has improved dramatically from 33% in 2019 to over 54% today.[3]
Government should enable charities to act now
But collectively we can and should be doing more. We have previously outlined specific actions that the Government could take now to enable charities to offer more effective support to people at risk of drug poisoning.[4] These include:
Alongside these specific actions, we must ensure everyone has access to the right support for them, at the right time. This includes access to residential treatment and improving access to support while people are in prison.
Government must re-state its commitment to reducing harm from drugs
After multiple years of austerity in England, Dame Carol Black’s independent review set out a five-year programme of investment and delivery that was required to ensure people could access the support they need and deserve.[5]
Following the 2024 election, the new Government paused the planned investment programme, freezing funding at year three levels rather than continuing to follow the path laid out by the Independent Review.
The time has now come to press play once again on this invaluable work that saves lives and helps communities and the economy thrive, reducing pressure on the NHS, the criminal justice system and wider public services, including social care.
This is an urgent issue
We must not delay taking action on this fatal issue. The National Crime Agency has stated that ‘there has never been a more dangerous time to take drugs’,[6] and this is reflected in today’s statistics. Synthetic opioids have become increasingly common in the UK. Between June 2023 and June 2025, Government statistics state that there were at least 494 deaths involving potent synthetic opioids.[7]
Help is available in your local community
Our member charities provide support services across the country, so help is available in every local community free at the point of use. If you need support yourself, or you’re worried about someone else, then please do get in touch with your local service. You are not alone. Thousands of people like you are already accessing support across the country. Just search at: https://www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you
Read our response to the consultations on The Spending Review and The 10-year health plan.
Notes
[1] Sordo et al (2017) “Mortality risk during and after opioid substitution treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies”, British Medical Journal, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1550
[2] The latest national figures on substance use treatment and recovery services show that more people are in treatment in the community than at any point since 2009-10, and progress is being made at an impressive rate, with 2023-24 seeing the largest rise in adults in treatment since 2008-09: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2023-to-2024/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2023-to-2024-report
[3] See https://www.ndtms.net/Monthly/ContinuityOfCare
[4] https://www.collectivevoice.org.uk/blog/the-governments-serious-approach-to-synthetic-opioids-is-welcome-but-it-can-do-more-to-provide-national-leadership/
[5] Independent Review of Drugs: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/independent-review-of-drugs-by-professor-dame-carol-black
[6] https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/there-has-never-been-a-more-dangerous-time-to-take-drugs-says-national-crime-agency-as-annual-threat-assessment-is-published?highlight=WyJjaGlsZCIsInRyYWZmaWNraW5nIl0=
[7] Latest figures on deaths related to synthetic opioids are available from the Drugs Early Warning System dashboard: https://www.ndtms.net/DrugsEarlyWarningSystem
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