UK drug deaths 2026: regional report
Latest ONS drug-poisoning figures for England, broken down by region, opioid vs cocaine share, and treatment access. All figures link to primary sources.
Reviewed to our medical review processWritten by Clearpath Editorial TeamMedically reviewed by Clearpath Clinical Team
Headline figures — England, 2023 registrations
- 4,800Drug-poisoning deaths registered in England
- 82.2Age-standardised rate per 100,000
- 3,201Opiate-involved deaths
- 1,060Cocaine-involved deaths
| Region | Deaths | Rate /100k | Opiate | Cocaine | In treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 385 | 130.9 | 259 | 74 | 15,400 |
| North West | 852 | 97.4 | 570 | 178 | 47,800 |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 555 | 92.1 | 371 | 118 | 34,500 |
| South West | 528 | 85.3 | 356 | 108 | 20,200 |
| West Midlands | 502 | 74.7 | 337 | 111 | 32,100 |
| East Midlands | 396 | 72.4 | 258 | 84 | 22,800 |
| South East | 673 | 64.2 | 449 | 152 | 27,600 |
| East of England | 425 | 57.4 | 279 | 94 | 18,700 |
| London | 484 | 47.6 | 322 | 141 | 33,900 |
What the numbers show
The North East has recorded the highest regional drug-poisoning mortality rate in England for over a decade. Cocaine-involved deaths have risen every year for twelve consecutive years and are now the second-largest contributor after opioids.
Regions with the highest death rates do not always have the highest treatment-access rates. Opioid deaths remain concentrated in a long-standing user cohort now aged 45–64.
Sources
- ONS — Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2023 registrations. ons.gov.uk
- OHID — Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2022–23. gov.uk
Last updated: 2024-10. Free to cite under CC BY 4.0 — please credit Clearpath UK Rehab and link back.