33 people in Stoke-on-Trent died from drug-related causes in 2025, as the charity calls for a single minister in charge of drugs policy and political leadership on the issue.
The figure for Stoke-on-Trent is down from 34 in 2024. Across England and Wales, 5,519 drug-related deaths were registered in 2025, up from 5,565 in 2024.
The figures may not show the full scale of the problem. Nitazenes, synthetic opioids far more powerful than heroin, are turning up in other drugs without people knowing. Responsibility for drugs is spread across at least six government departments with no single minister in charge.
Vicki Nash, Head of Service Delivery at Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug & Alcohol Service (CDAS), says:
“These figures represent real people from Stoke-on-Trent. They were family members, friends and neighbours, and our thoughts are with everyone who misses them today and always.
“There has never been a more dangerous time to take drugs. It’s now impossible to tell what is in a substance by how it’s labelled or what it looks like, and some of the new synthetic drugs are hundreds of times more potent than their counterparts.
“To protect communities and prevent drug-related deaths, CDAS partnered with Staffordshire Police to roll out force-wide naloxone training, equipping over 400 officers and staff with life-saving medication for rapid intervention during opioid overdose emergencies.
“If you’re worried about your own drug use, or of someone close to you, get in touch today.”
CDAS offers a range of non-judgmental support to help people recover from drugs and alcohol - from regular drop-ins where anyone over 18 can attend and talk to a trained recovery worker without an appointment, to one-to-one sessions, harm reduction advice, family support, and recovery groups.
CDAS says the government should:
- act now to save lives, by allowing overdose prevention centres in areas where people inject in public, making naloxone free and easier to get, and setting up a national drug checking service
- make sure everyone who needs treatment can get it quickly, wherever they live, with clear national standards on fast access, the right dose and wider support
- back services with long-term, sustained investment
- tackle the poverty and disadvantage that lead people into drug use, through decent housing, action on homelessness, support into work and a proper safety net
- treat drug use as a health issue and not a crime, because evidence suggests decriminalising possession could improve public health by reducing the stigma that stops people seeking help
About WithYou in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug and Alcohol Service (CDAS) provides free, confidential support for adults, young people, and families affected by drugs or alcohol, with no referral needed. Commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, CDAS is delivered in partnership by WithYou and BAC O’Connor.
The service offers a range of non-judgmental support, from regular drop-ins where anyone over 18 can attend and talk to a trained recovery worker without an appointment to one-to-one sessions, harm reduction advice, family support, and recovery groups. Get in touch at scdas.org.uk.