New record high drug deaths as nitazene opioid fatalities almost quadruple

Drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales have hit a new record high, according to the ONS (Alamy/PA) -

Drug-related deaths have hit a new record high, with the number involving a powerful synthetic opioid almost quadrupling, according to official figures,

There were 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning registered in England and Wales last year, the Office for National Statistics said.