Response to the latest report of Drug-Related Deaths in England and Wales 2024

We are deeply saddened by the release of today’s ONS data, which shows a record 5,565 people died from drug-related causes in England and Wales in 2024—the highest level since records began in 1993. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends, and communities who have lost loved ones.

Grief following a drug-related death can be particularly complex and isolating. The stigma surrounding substance use often makes it harder for people to speak openly about their loss. Relationships may have been complicated, and the pain of bereavement can be compounded by silence, shame, or misunderstanding. Today is a reminder that every person deserves to be mourned, and all grief is valid. Those we have lost were loved, and their lives mattered.

This data must prompt us to reflect deeply on what more we can do. Every drug- and alcohol-related death is preventable, though not always easily so. The challenges of reversing this trend are significant, but not insurmountable. Stigma is stubbornly and deeply embedded in our culture—visible in policy, in everyday conversations, and in how we relate to one another. Stigma makes us poorer as a society and limits human potential.

We all have a role to play. We can choose to be slower to judge, quicker to understand, and more willing to embrace complexity and compassion. We can educate ourselves about the realities of substance use and its impact. And those with influence—whether in policy, healthcare, education, or community leadership—can take meaningful steps to create inclusive, stigma-free spaces, policies, and practices.

We know enough to act, we just need the will to do so.