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.
Fact-checked to our sources & fact-checking policyWritten by Clearpath Editorial TeamSources checked by Clearpath Research Desk
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.