Drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales at highest level in 30 years

A drug user in a safe consumption van set up in Glasgow in 2020. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales have risen for the 10th consecutive year to the highest level since records began 30 years ago, with nearly half of deaths now involving an opiate.

There were 4,907 deaths related to drug poisoning in 2022, equivalent to a rate of 84.4 deaths per million people, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).