Drug misuse kills 613 in West Midlands over two years

A report reveals 613 people died from drug misuse in the West Midlands over two years, with Birmingham recording the highest rate at 10 per 100,000 people. Local leaders will discuss the findings Monday. The West Midlands State of the Region 2026 report covers Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. National data shows 9,697 such deaths from 2022 to 2024, with drug use rising among young adults. The report also notes smoking rates fell regionally to 12.7%, though Sandwell rose to 16.8%. Vaping nationally more than doubled from 6.6% in 2020 to 15.3% in 2024, raising long-term health concerns.