Cocaine deaths surpass heroin in England and Wales for first time
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show cocaine became the leading cause of drug deaths in England and Wales in 2025.
Cocaine linked to most poisonings
A total of 1,233 deaths were caused by cocaine last year. This number represents 22% of all drug poisoning deaths registered in England and Wales. The figure is slightly lower than the previous year but remains higher than deaths attributed to heroin or morphine.
Regional differences remain stark
The north-east of England recorded the highest rate of drug deaths at 135.2 per million people. London had the lowest rate among all regions during this period. Overall death rates fell slightly compared to 2024, marking the first decline since 2012.
Other substances also rise
Record numbers of ketamine-linked deaths were registered in 2025. These cases almost doubled compared to the previous year. Opiate and opioid drugs combined still accounted for more fatalities than cocaine alone.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- The Guardian
- BBC News
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