Four lines of cocaine as a white powder are seen on a wooden tabletop surface.
Cocaine-specific deaths were five times higher in the most deprived areas than the least deprived. Photograph: Mark Fagelson/Alamy
Cocaine-specific deaths were five times higher in the most deprived areas than the least deprived. Photograph: Mark Fagelson/Alamy
Cocaine overtakes heroin as leading cause of drug deaths in England and Wales

Charities say government ‘must act now’ with cocaine-specific deaths eight times higher than in 2010

Cocaine has overtaken heroin as the biggest cause of drug deaths in England and Wales, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.