Drug deaths in England and Wales highest since records began

In 2018, there were 4,359 drug-related deaths in England and Wales.

The number of people dying from drug poisoning is the highest it has ever been in England and Wales.

In 2018, there were 4,359 drug-related deaths in England and Wales.

This is the highest since records began more than a quarter of a century ago in 1993, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The official body said it was also the highest annual increase since records began, rising 16% (603 deaths) from 2017.

More than half of the deaths involved an opiate (2,208 deaths), while deaths from new psychoactive substances, or legal highs, doubled in a year to 125.

Deaths involving cocaine doubled over the three years to 2018, reaching their highest ever level.

Ben Humberstone, deputy director for health analysis and life events at the ONS, said: ‘The number of deaths from drug use in 2018 was the highest since our records began in 1993. We have also seen the biggest year-on-year percentage increase.

‘Previously, this had been linked to a rise in deaths related to opiates like heroin and morphine, but last year there were also increases in deaths across a wider variety of substances including cocaine and what had been known as ‘legal highs’.

‘We produce these figures to help inform decision makers working towards protecting those at risk of dying from drug poisoning.’

The ONS figures cover deaths involving controlled and non-controlled drugs, prescription and over-the-counter medications.

They also include accidents and suicides involving drugs, and complications such as deep vein thrombosis or septicaemia from intravenous drug use.

Almost half of the deaths registered last year will have happened in previous years, due to the time it can take for an inquest to be completed, statisticians believe, adding that many deaths that occurred in 2018 will be missing from these figures.

Around two-thirds of drug poisoning deaths were from drug misuse (2,917) – continuing a trend seen over the last decade.

Males accounted for more than two-thirds of drug poisonings (2,984, compared with 1,375 females).

Most of the recorded deaths were due to accidental poisoning (80% of males and 67% of females), and then intentional self-poisoning (16% of males and 30% of females).

The remaining deaths were caused by mental and behavioural disorders as a result of drug use or assault involving drugs.