Latest UK drug related deaths statistics

On 3rd September 2015, the UK's Office of National Statistics released a Statistical Bulletin Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2014 registrations. The report's main points included a number of serious statistics demonstrating increases, with the total registered drug poisoning deaths reaching 3,346, the highest since records began in 1993. The report states:

• There were 3,346 drug poisoning deaths registered in England and Wales in 2014, the highest since comparable records began in 1993.

• Of these, 2,248 (or 67%) were drug misuse deaths involving illegal drugs.

• The mortality rate from drug misuse was the highest ever recorded at 39.9 deaths per million population.

• Males were over 2.5 times more likely to die from drug misuse than females (58.0 and 21.9 deaths per million population for males and females respectively).

• Deaths involving heroin and/or morphine increased by almost two-thirds between 2012 and 2014, from 579 to 952 deaths.

• Deaths involving cocaine increased sharply to 247 in 2014 – up from 169 deaths in 2013.

• People aged 40 to 49 had the highest mortality rate from drug misuse (88.4 deaths per million population); followed by people aged 30 to 39 (87.9 deaths per million).

• In England there was a 17% rise in the drug misuse mortality rate in 2014, to 39.7 per million population, while in Wales the rate fell by 16% to 39.0 deaths per million, the lowest since 2006.

• All figures presented in this bulletin are based on deaths registered in a particular calendar year. Out of the 3,346 drug-related deaths registered in 2014, half (1,682) occurred in years before 2014.