Number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales rises to highest on record, Government must declare public health emergency
2 August 2017
Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released today shows 3,744 drug-related deaths registered in 2016 in England and Wales and a 44% increase on 2012 figures. It is the fourth year in a row that the ONS has registered an increase. 2016 is now the year with the highest number of registered drug-related deaths since records began. Increased mortality rates have been reported across all the main substances of use.
Deaths related to MDMA and cocaine are the highest since records began with 63 and 371 fatalities, recorded respectively. MDMA deaths have increased by 103% per cent and cocaine deaths by 167%, since 2012.
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