What it means: deaths where poisoning by a drug was the cause, including illegal drugs, prescription medicines and suicides by overdose. Of these, 3,615 were classed as drug misuse, meaning illegal drugs or drug abuse or dependence. The fainter lines show deaths where opiates such as heroin (2,324) and cocaine were mentioned; one death can involve several drugs. Cocaine deaths have risen from 11 in 1993. Deaths are counted when registered, which can be months after they happen because of inquests. The age-standardised rate was 92.4 per million people. A change of 5% or more on the year before counts.

Source: ONS, deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2025 registrations, table 4.