The UK government is currently executing a multi-year strategy backed by a record in treatment and education services.
: Opiates and opioids were involved in 47.1% (2,621 deaths) of all registered drug poisonings in 2024.
: Between April 2024 and March 2025, a record 329,646 adults were in contact with treatment services—a 6% increase from the previous year. Opioid crisis United K.pptx
: NHS initiatives have successfully reduced high-dose opioid prescribing for chronic non-cancer pain by 20.35% against the 2021 baseline. Total costs for opioid drugs fell by 36% since 2015/16.
: The North East continues to record the highest rates of drug-related mortality (167.6 deaths per million), while London saw a sharp 32% increase in 2024. Treatment and Prescribing Trends The UK government is currently executing a multi-year
: These prescribing reductions are estimated to have prevented between 841 and 910 deaths . Strategic Response and Government Initiatives
: Fatalities linked to nitazenes (potent synthetic opioids) increased fourfold, from 52 in 2023 to 195 in 2024 . : NHS initiatives have successfully reduced high-dose opioid
Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2024 to 2025: report