Written question asked by Charlotte Nichols (Labour) on Monday, 29 January 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 31 January 2024. It was answered by Andrea Leadsom (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 February 2024 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Fentanyl and Nitazenes: Death

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data her Department holds on the number of deaths as a result of (a) nitazenes and (b) fentanyl poisonings in 2023.

Answer: Data on drug-related deaths registered in England and Wales are collected and reported on annually by the Office for National Statistics with the latest published data covering deaths registered in 2022. However, for surveillance purposes, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has been tracking deaths reported to it via its networks that have been confirmed to involve nitazenes or fentanyls in England since 1 June 2023. OHID has logged 64 deaths involving nitazenes and no deaths involving fentanyls between June and December 2023.

Secondary information