Drug-related deaths in the United Kingdom

In 2023, 3,618 deaths in England and Wales[1] and 1,172 in Scotland were recorded as “drug misuse”.

[3] The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommended in 2016 that there should be wider provision of naloxone (which can be used to block the effects of opioid overdose), central funding for heroin-assisted treatment, medically-supervised drug consumption rooms and more opioid substitution therapy.

In the lead up to International Overdose Awareness Day called for heroin-assisted treatment and greater use of take home naloxone kits.

[8] Age wise, the bands of 35 to 54 year olds suffer the most and make up approximately two-thirds of drug-misuse deaths.

[11] However, drug policy is not a devolved matter and is controlled by the UK government.