Drug overdose deaths in England and Wales soared to a 32-year high in 2024, with 5,565 fatalities from drug poisoning, marking the worst since 1993, and cocaine-related deaths increasing by 14.4% to 1,279, mostly affecting males in their 40s.

Most drug poisoning deaths involve opioids, with heroin and morphine remaining the most common, and a significant rise in synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which nearly quadrupled to 195 deaths in 2024, highlighting their high potency and overdose risk.

Official statistics likely underestimate the true scale of the crisis due to delays in reporting and missing drug information in about 20% of cases, with some deaths from previous years only registered in 2024.

The rise in drug-related deaths is considered a 'national scandal,' prompting urgent calls for government intervention and expanded harm reduction policies.

Experts warn that the proliferation of highly potent synthetic drugs, including those produced within the UK, significantly increases the risk of overdose and death.

Sir Richard Branson described the rising figures as a 'shock' and called for a 'radical shift' in drug policy, advocating for harm reduction measures such as supervised consumption rooms, which are limited in the UK compared to other countries.

Branson criticized current UK drug policies and emphasized the need for more harm reduction facilities, including drug checking services, to address the crisis effectively.

Charities and experts are urging for increased availability of naloxone, an overdose-reversal medication, and better investment in drug treatment programs to combat the rising tide of overdoses.

The number of deaths involving nitazenes, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times stronger than heroin, almost quadrupled from 52 in 2023 to 195 in 2024, underscoring the growing danger posed by these potent substances.

The rise in drug-related deaths has been described as a 'national scandal,' with calls for urgent government action to implement more comprehensive harm reduction strategies.

Most victims of drug poisoning are male, particularly in their 40s, with regional disparities showing the north-east experiencing the highest death rates, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

The average age of those who die from drug poisoning is around 45.5 for men and 48.5 for women, with the majority being in the 40-49 age group.