Drug deaths soar to highest level ever recorded in England and Wales

Official figures show that drug deaths in England and Wales are at their highest since records began more than 30 years ago – up 11% on the previous year.

In Wales, that figure is nearly 20%.

We’ve spent the last year speaking to young people in Swansea about their experience of drug-taking and grief over lost friends – we’ve also had exclusive access to a drugs commission trying to solve the crisis.