Drug related deaths are at their highest level in 25 years - here's why

Synthetic opiates such as fentanyls have contributed to rise in opiate-related deaths in US

According to new data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), 2016 saw the highest number of drug-related deaths since records began in 1993. Over half of these deaths involved an opiate such as heroin. Those aged 40-49 made up the largest group dying as a result of drug poisoning. Compared to the general population, this group are dying decades before they should.

For the population as a whole, life expectancy has stalled since 2010. This is not inevitable as the UK is not yet achieving the average life expectancy of countries such as Japan and Sweden.