UK Drug Statistics 2026
The UK recorded over 210,000 drug offences and 4,907 drug poisoning deaths in 2023. Live counter tracking drug-related crime and health data.
Drug Offences Per Year
Drug Poisoning Deaths (2023)
Adults Used Any Drug Past Year
Drug Deaths Per Day
Cannabis Users (Past Year)
Problem Drug Users
Annual Cost to Society
Drug Offences: Possession
Source: Home Office Drug Misuse Statistics · ONS Drug Poisoning Deaths · 2023/24
About These Statistics
Drug misuse remains a significant public health and criminal justice issue in the UK. The Home Office recorded over 210,000 drug offences in 2023/24, of which around 59% were possession offences and 41% were supply and trafficking offences.
Drug poisoning deaths reached 4,907 in 2023 — the highest figure ever recorded. Scotland has significantly higher drug death rates than England and Wales. Opiates, particularly heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl, account for the majority of drug deaths.
Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug, with approximately 1.4 million adults using it in the past year. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates around 3.1 million adults used any drug in the past year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How many drug deaths are there in the UK each year?
There were 4,907 drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales in 2023 — the highest ever recorded. Scotland has a significantly higher rate per capita. Opiates are involved in the majority of deaths.
What are the most commonly used illegal drugs in the UK?
Cannabis is the most widely used at 1.4 million users per year. Powder cocaine has around 900,000 users. About 3.1 million adults overall used any drug in the past year.
How many drug offences are recorded in the UK each year?
Police recorded over 210,000 drug offences in England and Wales in 2023/24. Around 59% were possession offences and 41% were supply/trafficking.
What is the government's drug policy?
The UK classifies drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Class A (heroin, cocaine, MDMA) carries up to 7 years for possession and life for supply. The government's drug strategy focuses on prevention, treatment and recovery.
How much does drug misuse cost the UK?
Drug misuse costs the UK approximately £19 billion per year including criminal justice, health treatment and the wider social costs of drug-related crime and lost productivity.
UK Drug Poisoning Deaths by Year — 2015 to 2023
Drug-related deaths, England and Wales. Source: ONS.
| Year | Deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,674 | — |
| 2017 | 4,359 | +19% |
| 2019 | 4,393 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 4,859 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 4,907 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 4,907 | Record high |
Source: ONS Drug Poisoning Deaths in England and Wales
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