New Office for National Statistics figures show 422 drug-poisoning deaths registered in Wales during 2025, up from 417 in 2024.
Deaths in Wales
422
Registered in 2025
Welsh mortality rate
141.3
Per million people
English mortality rate
89.5
Per million people
Age-standardised registered deaths per million population
The Welsh rate increased by 0.6% from 2024, while England’s fell by 1.8%. Across England and Wales combined, the rate declined for the first time since 2012.
Why it matters: The figures show a persistent difference in drug-related mortality between Wales and England. They raise questions about access to addiction treatment, prevention, mental health services and support for people at risk of overdose.
Important qualification: Drug-poisoning deaths include accidental poisoning, intentional self-poisoning and other causes; they are not all necessarily deaths involving illicit drug misuse. Registration delays also affect annual comparisons. Almost 63% of deaths registered across England and Wales in 2025 occurred in earlier years.
The ONS has also published local-authority data, enabling further investigation of differences within Wales.
