That this House is dismayed at annual data released by the Office for National Statistics on 17 October 2025 revealing yet another record number of drug deaths; notes that 5,565 deaths related to drug poisoning were registered in England and Wales in 2024; further notes that opiates and opioids were involved in almost half of these; recognises that recent research from King's College London has shown that many opioid-related deaths are missed from official statistics, raising concerns that underestimation has led to underfunding; is alarmed that deaths related to the synthetic opioid Nitazenes are four times higher than in the previous year; is concerned that cocaine-related deaths have risen for the thirteenth consecutive year; observes that death rates remain highest in areas suffering greatest deprivation; and calls on the Government to acknowledge this is a public health crisis and redouble efforts to tackle it.
