ONS + OHID · updated 2024-10

North East: addiction and mortality statistics

Highest drug-poisoning mortality rate of any English region for the 11th consecutive year.

Drug-poisoning deaths (2023)

385

130.9 / 100k

Opiate deaths

259

67% of drug deaths

Cocaine deaths

19% of drug deaths

Alcohol-specific rate

21.6

per 100k, age-standardised

Alcohol admissions

830

per 100k (narrow, 2022/23)

Adults in treatment

15,400

OHID 2022/23

Population

2.6m

ONS mid-2022 estimate

vs England avg

+59%

drug-death rate

How North East compares to England

The North East drug-poisoning mortality rate is 59% above the England average of 82.2/100k. Alcohol-specific mortality is 49% above the England rate of 14.5/100k.

Opiates account for 67% of drug-poisoning deaths in North East; cocaine accounts for 19%. The remainder are predominantly polydrug fatalities involving benzodiazepines, methadone or novel synthetics.

Local rehab options in North East

Rehab in Newcastle upon Tyne

NHS via NTAR (Newcastle Treatment and Recovery)

Rehab in Sunderland

NHS via Wear Recovery (CGL)

Rehab in Middlesbrough

NHS via Change Grow Live Middlesbrough

100% confidential

Get help with addiction in North East

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Common questions

How many people died from drug poisoning in the North East in 2023?▾

The ONS registered 385 drug-poisoning deaths in the North East in 2023, an age-standardised rate of 130.9 per 100,000. Opiates were involved in 259 of these; cocaine in 74.

Is alcohol mortality higher in the North East than the rest of England?▾

The alcohol-specific death rate in the North East is 21.6 per 100,000 (age-standardised), compared with an England average of 14.5. Alcohol-related hospital admissions (narrow definition) run at 830 per 100,000.

How many adults are in structured addiction treatment in the North East?▾

OHID recorded 15,400 adults in structured treatment in the North East in 2022/23. That includes people in community drug and alcohol services, prescribing programmes, and residential detox.

Where does this data come from?▾

Drug-poisoning deaths are from ONS 2023 registrations. Alcohol mortality and admissions are from OHID's Local Alcohol Profiles for England (Fingertips profile 87). Treatment numbers are from OHID's Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2022–23. All three are published under the Open Government Licence.

Sources: ONS Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2023 registrations; OHID Local Alcohol Profiles for England; OHID Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2022–23. Data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.