Drug deaths in Somerset have risen to 132 in the past year, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The total represents an age‑standardised rate of 8.3 deaths per 100,000 people, as a potent new opioid, nitazene, spreads across the UK.

Across England and Wales, there were 5,565 drug‑poisoning deaths in 2024 – the highest number ever recorded. The ONS confirmed 195 deaths were linked to nitazenes, almost four times higher than the 52 recorded the previous year.

Nitazenes, which experts describe as up to 300 times stronger than heroin, are driving a national surge in overdoses.

Ian Hamilton, associate professor of addiction at the University of York, said: "A rise in deaths from nitazines is a reflection of wider use, and this is a real concern. There is also a delay in reporting these figures, so there is likely already wider use than people realise. This is just the start of a trend of rising nitazene deaths. It will undoubtedly rise next year and be with us as a problem for a while."

The ONS said the statistics include deaths from drug abuse, dependence, accidents, suicides and medical complications linked to both illegal and prescription substances. Around one in five cases lacked detail on which drugs were involved, meaning the real total could be higher.

The North East remains the region with the highest drug death rate, roughly three times that of the East of England, while London saw a sharp rise, from 500 to 662 deaths in a year.

Clare Taylor, chief operating officer at Turning Point, urged wider access to naloxone, the life‑saving antidote that reverses opioid overdoses.

She said: "Synthetic opioids continue to flow into the market. Lab‑produced opioids pose a significant risk to life due to their potency and this is reflected in the fact that deaths related to nitazenes have increased four‑fold compared to the previous year. If Government is serious about tackling regional health inequalities, then proper investment in drug and alcohol treatment is needed."

This marks the twelfth consecutive annual rise in drug deaths across England and Wales. Cocaine deaths are also at record levels, with fatalities among people aged 40 to 49 increasing by around a quarter in the past decade.

ONS statistician David Mais said: "We are seeing a small but continued increase in the rate of deaths relating to drug poisoning, with opioids and opiates, such as heroin and morphine, the drugs most commonly mentioned on death registrations. However, in a fifth of cases, no information is provided about the specific drug or drugs involved."

Men remain twice as likely to die from drug‑related causes as women. Public‑health experts warn that without urgent action, the next 12 months could bring another record rise — and Somerset will not be spared.

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