How many drug deaths are there in the UK?

In England and Wales, the ONS reported 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in 2024, of which 3,736 were classed as drug misuse, in its bulletin of 17 October 2025. In Scotland, National Records of Scotland reported 1,133 drug use deaths registered in 2025, an age-standardised rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people.

The definitions differ. "Drug poisoning" includes accidental and deliberate poisonings involving any drug, including prescribed medicines; "drug misuse" is a narrower subset. NRS uses its own "drug use deaths" definition, but switches to the wider drug poisoning definition when comparing UK countries; on that basis Scotland has had the highest rate in the UK for the last decade.

These figures are by year of registration, which can lag the death by months because of inquests. Check the definition and the basis before comparing countries or years.

Official sources: ONS deaths related to drug poisoning, England and Wales · NRS drug-related deaths in Scotland, 2025

When is the next figure out?

ONS mortality releases are pre-announced on its release calendar and published at 9:30am. The weekly deaths dashboard updates each week, usually covering registrations up to about two weeks earlier. Annual releases on causes of death, suicides, drug and alcohol deaths come out at different times of year. NRS and NISRA publish their own release calendars.

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• Age-standardised rate
  A rate adjusted to a standard population age structure, so that places or years with older or younger populations can be compared fairly.

Where the figures come from

• UK deaths, life expectancy and public health statistics (ONS, OHID, UKHSA, NRS, NISRA)
  Where to find official UK figures on deaths, excess deaths, life expectancy, causes of death, suicide, drug and alcohol deaths and vaccination.

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This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about deaths, life expectancy and public health: all Deaths, life expectancy and public health questions.