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General · 10 minutes ago

Cocaine now causes more drug deaths than heroin, with 1,233 in 2025

Cocaine now causes more drug deaths than heroin, with 1,233 in 2025

Zxc via Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)

Among the 5,519 drug poisoning fatalities documented in England and Wales during 2025, cocaine was referenced in 1,233 instances, surpassing heroin or morphine, which were cited in 1,210 deaths. Charities attribute the rise to more potent and accessible cocaine. The Office for National Statistics reported a decrease in the overall drug death rate not seen since 2012.

Reported by BBC · How we write briefs

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