Cocaine overtakes heroin as leading cause of drug deaths
Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 15:28 · Archive
Cocaine has overtaken heroin as the substance most often involved in drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. There were 1,233 deaths caused by cocaine last year, representing 22 per cent of the 5,519 total drug-related deaths registered. Cocaine-specific deaths are now eight times higher than in 2010, though overall drug deaths fell slightly in 2025 compared with the previous year, remaining at historically high levels and double the rates of 10 years ago.
Charities have urged the government to "act now to reverse this deadly trend". A total of 64 per cent of cocaine deaths were of people over the age of 40. The north-east of England had the highest rates of drug deaths at 135.2 deaths per million people, while London had the lowest at 58.3 deaths per million. Deaths were five times higher in the most deprived areas than the least deprived.
How it is being reported
- Cocaine overtakes heroin as leading cause of drug deaths in England and WalesThe number of deaths linked to cocaine use in England and Wales has nearly quadrupled in a decade.BBC News · 4 Nov, 17:58
- Cocaine overtakes heroin as leading cause of drug deaths in England and WalesCharities say government ‘must act now’ with cocaine-specific deaths eight times higher than in 2010 Cocaine has overtaken heroin as the biggest cause of drug deaths in England and Wales, figures from the Office for National Statistics show. The government “must act now to reverse this deadly trend”, charities have said, with 1,233 deaths caused by cocaine last year. Continue reading...The Guardian · 4 Nov, 14:54
- Cocaine-related deaths overtake heroin for first time in England and WalesCocaine has overtaken heroin as the substance most often involved in drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales, according to new data.Sky News · 4 Nov, 11:20
In this story: England and Wales · Office for National Statistics · London · North-east England
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