Cocaine overtakes heroin as the drug most linked to deaths in England and Wales

Cocaine was the drug most involved in drug-related deaths in England and Wales in 2025, overtaking heroin for the first time, according to Office for National Statistics figures published 4 November 2026. The ONS recorded 1,233 cocaine deaths, 22% of the total. Cocaine-specific deaths are now eight times higher than in 2010. Charities said the government "must act now."