Opiates/opioids - such as heroin, morphine and methadone - were the most common drugs connected to deaths, being implicated in 937 deaths - 80% of the overall total.

There has been a sharp rise in cocaine overdoses with the drug a factor in 479 deaths in 2023 - an increase from 371 deaths in 2022.

NRS says cocaine was a factor in 41% of deaths — up from 6% 15 years ago.