In the past year, Somerset recorded over 100 deaths linked to drug poisoning, reflecting a troubling national trend of rising drug-related fatalities. New government data reveals that England and Wales saw 5,565 drug poisoning deaths in 2024—a 2% increase from the previous year and the highest annual toll since records began in 1993. Somerset alone registered 133 deaths, marking its second-highest annual total, just behind 2023’s 149.
This figure includes 55 deaths in Bristol, 19 in North Somerset, nine in Bath and North East Somerset, and 50 across other parts of the county. Nationally, nearly half of all drug-poisoning deaths involved opiates or opioids, accounting for 47% (2,621 deaths). Heroin and morphine were the most frequently encountered drugs in fatal cases, responsible for 1,415 deaths.
Of particular concern is the dramatic rise in deaths involving nitazenes, a class of highly potent new synthetic opioids. Deaths from nitazenes surged to 195 in 2024—a near fourfold increase from 52 in 2023. These substances can be up to 100 times stronger than heroin, significantly elevating the risk of fatal overdose. Cocaine-related deaths also rose by 14%, totaling 1,279 last year.
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Within Somerset, Bristol exhibited the highest mortality rate from drug poisoning, with 12.5 deaths per 100,000 residents over the last three years, well above the national average of 8.8. Other areas followed at lower rates: Somerset at 8.3, North Somerset at 7.7, and Bath and North East Somerset at 7.6. Men were approximately twice as likely as women to die from drug poisoning.
The majority of these deaths (67% or 3,736) resulted from drug misuse involving abuse or dependence, with Generation X (those born between the late 1960s and early 1980s) experiencing the highest rates. The average age of drug misuse death was 45.5 years for men and 48.5 years for women.
Sir Richard Branson, a member of the Global Commission on Drugs, described the figures as “shocking” and a reflection of a “national crisis” aggravated by dangerous synthetic opioids like nitazenes. He advocated for treating drug use as a health issue and urged a shift towards harm reduction policies, such as drug checking services and medically supervised consumption rooms. Branson highlighted the UK’s slow adoption of these initiatives, noting only one such facility exists—the Thistle in Glasgow—compared to over 100 operating worldwide.
Clare Taylor, chief operating officer at the Turning Point charity, emphasized the growing threat posed by synthetic opioids and called for wider availability of naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication. She called for increased government investment in drug and alcohol treatment to address regional health inequalities.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, affirming the government’s commitment to reduce drug-related deaths through treatment and support services. Recent campaigns have aimed to educate young people about the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines, and contaminated vapes. Government efforts continue to collaborate with health services, law enforcement, and public agencies to reduce drug use and its harms nationwide.