report drug use uk

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Publication, Part of Statistics on Drug Misuse (replaced by Statistics on Public Health)

Statistics on Drug Misuse, England 2020

Official statistics, National statistics

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• Part 1: Hospital admissions related to drug misuse

Statistics on Public Health

Please note that this publication has now been integrated into the new Statistics on Public Health publication that brings together:

• Statistics on Alcohol,
• Statistics on Drug Misuse,
• Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet,
• Statistics on Smoking.

In its first iteration it presents the information previously published in these publications in the new format agreed as part of the consultation in early 2022.  The consultation outcomes document can be found below under Resources.

We value your opinions on this new look publication and would welcome your feedback .

We plan to publish updated hospital admissions, mortality and prescribing data for 2020/21 through to 2022/23 later in 2023 with the publication then being produced routinely in the autumn each year.

20 July 2023 09:30 AM

This report presents newly published information on hospital admissions attributable to drug-related mental health and behavioural disorders and on hospital admissions attributable to poisoning by illicit drugs.

The report also provides links to information on drug misuse among both adults and children from a variety of sources, including the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System and the Crime Survey for England and Wales.

Additionally, a data visualisation tool (link provided below) allows users to select the drug-related hospital admissions data for any Local Authority (as contained in the data tables), along with time series data from 2013/14. Regional and national comparisons are also provided.

The publication of this report was delayed from July 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) requiring changes to NHS Digital’s statistical production schedule.

Key facts cover 2019/20 which is the latest year of available data for hospital admissions.

7,027 hospital admissions for drug-related mental and behavioural disorders

5% lower than 2018/19 (7,376), but 21% higher than 2009/10 (5,809)

Admissions were around 5 times more likely in the most deprived areas, compared to the least deprived areas

16,994 hospital admissions for poisoning by drug misuse

6% lower than 2018/19 (18,053), but 9% higher than 2012/13 (15,580)

99,782 admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of drug-related mental and behavioural disorders

3% higher than 2018/19, when there were 96,705 admissions

Admissions were over 8 times more likely in the most deprived areas, compared to the least deprived areas

Interactive Tool

Drug related hospital admissions data visualisation tool.

This tool is in Microsoft PowerBI which does not fully support all accessibility needs. If you need further assistance, please  contact us  for help.

• Drug related hospital admissions: data tables

Lifestyles compendia consultation document 2022

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Last edited: 14 July 2023 11:19 am

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• Data quality statement
• Author, Copyright and Licensing

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Reducing the harm from illegal drugs

Report – Value for money

Date: 20 Oct 2023

Topics: Crime, justice and law , Health and social care , Public health

Departments: Cross-government , Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities , Department for Work and Pensions , Department of Health and Social Care , Home Office

Background to the report

The distribution, sale and consumption of illegal drugs causes significant harm to individuals, families and communities. In 2021, almost 3,000 people in England died because of drug misuse and thousands more suffered complex health problems. The government also estimated that around three million people in England and Wales take illegal drugs at a cost to society of approximately £20 billion a year. The drugs trade generates significant levels of violence and is believed to be responsible for around half of all murders in England and Wales.

Tackling the problems caused by illegal drugs is complex. It involves disrupting the organised gangs which supply and distribute drugs, and providing effective treatment and recovery services to help people with addictions. The government announced a £900 million increase in funding for 2022-23 to 2024-25 and committed to long-term targets to reduce drug use and drug-related crime and deaths. The government established the cross-government Joint Combating Drugs Unit (JCDU) to co-ordinate and oversee the development and implementation of the strategy.

Scope of the report

It is almost two years since the government introduced its latest drugs strategy and less than 18 months remain in the current funding period to March 2025. This report examines whether the government is well positioned to achieve the strategy’s 10-year ambitions. It covers:

• the development of the 2021 drugs strategy, its objectives and funding
• progress in implementing the strategy
• the approach to achieving the strategy’s long-term outcomes

It is too early to conclude whether the 2021 strategy will reduce the harm from illegal drugs. It will take time for new funding and interventions to address a complex set of issues, and many of the indicators used to measure progress lag behind activity. This report therefore assesses whether departments are making the planned progress in implementing the strategy, and whether the JCDU has an effective approach to understanding the impact it is having and managing the risks to achieving the strategy’s aims. It does not examine the effectiveness of interventions at the local level.

Conclusions

In 2021 the government estimated that the harm caused by illegal drugs costs society £20 billion each year. Its 2021 drugs strategy, led by the cross-government Joint Combating Drugs Unit, has provided new impetus to efforts to address these harms, and committed £900 million to 2024-25.

The strategy has established new partnerships across central and local government, and local authorities are taking steps to rebuild the workforce that was lost over the past decade. But these measures alone will not address all of the barriers to achieving a long-term reduction in drug use, deaths and related crime. The issues are complex and will require a sustained long-term response.

To inform government’s response, the JCDU and relevant departments need to develop a deeper understanding of the impacts of government spending, working closely with local service providers to understand and help address the practical challenges they face. The JCDU and departments need to be realistic about what is achievable in the first three years and assess how to adapt their approach to achieve the strategy’s 10-year outcomes.

In doing so, the JCDU should seek to provide confidence to local government that this is a long-term commitment. It must also urgently develop a plan to reduce the demand for illegal drugs. The current lack of emphasis on preventing illegal drug use means that departments risk only addressing the consequences, rather than the causes, of harm. The government will only achieve value for money if it builds on the initial momentum of the new strategy and develops a longer-term, funded plan that delivers a joined-up, holistic response.

• Report - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs (.pdf — 1,000 KB)
• Summary - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs (.pdf — 130 KB)
• ePub - Reducing the harm from illegal drugs (.epub — 2 MB)

Publication details

• ISBN: 978-1-78604-512-6 [ Buy a hard copy of this report ]
• HC: 1864 2022-23

Press release

View press release (20 Oct 2023)

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State of Health

Drug use in the United Kingdom (UK) - statistics & facts

Increase in youth drug use, drug deaths in the uk, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Drug induced deaths in Europe in 2021, by country

Drug use in the European Union 2023, by type of drug

England: Adults in treatment for substance misuse 2005-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Care & Support

Further recommended statistics

European overview.

• Premium Statistic Drug use in the European Union 2023, by type of drug
• Premium Statistic Drug induced deaths in Europe in 2021, by country
• Basic Statistic Cannabis use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2021, by country
• Basic Statistic Cocaine use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2022, by country
• Basic Statistic Amphetamine use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2021, by country
• Basic Statistic Ecstasy use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2021, by country

Share of drug use in the European Union in 2023, by type of drug

Number of drug induced deaths in Europe in 2021, by country (per million population)

Cannabis use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2021, by country

Prevalence of cannabis use in the last year in Europe as of 2021, by country

Cocaine use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2022, by country

Prevalence of cocaine use in the last year in Europe as of 2022*, by country

Amphetamine use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2021, by country

Prevalence of amphetamine use in the last year in Europe as of 2021, by country

Ecstasy use in the past 12 months in Europe as of 2021, by country

Prevalence of ecstasy use in the last year in Europe as of 2021, by country

UK overview

• Premium Statistic Cannabis users in England and Wales in 2018, by age
• Premium Statistic MDMA/ecstasy users in England and Wales in 2018, by age
• Premium Statistic Cocaine users in England and Wales in 2018, by age
• Premium Statistic Amphetamine users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Cannabis users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Share of cannabis users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

MDMA/ecstasy users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Share of MDMA/ecstasy users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Cocaine users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Share of cocaine users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Amphetamine users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Share of amphetamine users in England and Wales in 2018, by age

Hospital admissions and treatment for drug misuse

• Basic Statistic Drug related NHS hospital admissions in England 2019/20, by age
• Basic Statistic England: NHS hospital admissions for poisoning by drug misuse 2019/20, by region
• Premium Statistic England: Adults in treatment for substance misuse 2005-2022
• Premium Statistic England: Adults in treatment for substance misuse 2021/22, by substance used
• Premium Statistic England: Young people in treatment for substance misuse 2021-22, by substance used
• Premium Statistic England: Young people in treatment for substance misuse 2021/22, by gender and age
• Premium Statistic Scotland: number of hospital stays for drug misuse 2000-2023
• Premium Statistic Scotland: number of hospital stays for drug misuse 2022/23, by age
• Premium Statistic Northern Ireland: breakdown of people in treatment for drug use 2019/20, by gender

Drug related NHS hospital admissions in England 2019/20, by age

Number of admissions to hospital due to drug related mental health and behavior disorder in England in 2019/20, by age

England: NHS hospital admissions for poisoning by drug misuse 2019/20, by region

Number of admissions to hospital due to poisoning by drug misuse in England in 2019/20, by gender and region

Number of adults in treatment for substance misuse in England from 2005/06 to 2021/22

England: Adults in treatment for substance misuse 2021/22, by substance used

Number of adults in treatment for substance misuse in England in 2021/22, by substance used

England: Young people in treatment for substance misuse 2021-22, by substance used

Number of young people in treatment for substance misuse in England in 2021/22, by primary substance used

England: Young people in treatment for substance misuse 2021/22, by gender and age

Number of young people in treatment for substance misuse in England in 2021/22, by gender and age

Scotland: number of hospital stays for drug misuse 2000-2023

Number of hospital stays for drug misuse in Scotland from 2000/01 to 2022/23

Scotland: number of hospital stays for drug misuse 2022/23, by age

Number of hospital stays* for drug misuse in Scotland in 2022/23, by age

Northern Ireland: breakdown of people in treatment for drug use 2019/20, by gender

Distribution of individuals in treatment for alcohol and drug use in Northern Ireland in 2019/20, by gender

Drug use among children

• Basic Statistic Type of drugs offered to children in England 2018, by gender
• Basic Statistic School children's awareness of individual drugs in England 2018
• Basic Statistic School children who took drugs in last month in England 2022, by age and gender
• Basic Statistic Frequency of drug use by school children in England 2021, by gender
• Basic Statistic Frequency of drug use by school children in England 2021, by age
• Basic Statistic Usual frequency of drug use by school children in England 2021, by gender

Type of drugs offered to children in England 2018, by gender

Proportion of children who have ever been offered individual drugs in England in 2018, by type and gender

School children's awareness of individual drugs in England 2018

Share of school children aware of individual drugs in England in 2018

School children who took drugs in last month in England 2022, by age and gender

Proportion of school children who took drugs in the last month in England as of 2022, by age and gender

Frequency of drug use by school children in England 2021, by gender

Number of occasions school children have ever taken drugs in England in 2021, by gender

Frequency of drug use by school children in England 2021, by age

Number of occasions school children have ever taken drugs in England in 2021, by age

Usual frequency of drug use by school children in England 2021, by gender

Usual frequency of drug use by school children (aged 11-15) who have taken drugs in England in 2021, by gender

Drug offences

• Basic Statistic Number of drug offences in England and Wales 2002-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of drug seizures in England and Wales 2022/23, by type
• Premium Statistic Quantity of heroin seized in England and Wales 2006-2022
• Premium Statistic Quantity of cannabis seized in England and Wales 2006-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of drug offences in Northern Ireland 2002-2023

Number of drug offences in England and Wales 2002-2023

Number of police recorded drug offences in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2022/23

Number of drug seizures in England and Wales 2022/23, by type

Number of drug seizures by the police and border force in England and Wales in 2022/23 by type of drug

Quantity of heroin seized in England and Wales 2006-2022

Quantity of heroin seized by police and border forces in England and Wales from 2006/07 to 2021/22 (in kilograms)

Quantity of cannabis seized in England and Wales 2006-2022

Quantity of herbal and resin cannabis seized by police and border forces in England and Wales from 2006/07 to 2021/22 (in kilograms)

Number of drug offences in Northern Ireland 2002-2023

Number of drug offences recorded in Northern Ireland from 2002/03 to 2022/23

Drug related deaths

• Basic Statistic Cause of death from drug poisoning in England and Wales 2022, by gender
• Basic Statistic Deaths from drug poisoning by opiates in England and Wales 1993-2022
• Premium Statistic Heroin & methadone related deaths in England and Wales 2019, by gender
• Premium Statistic Number of drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales 1993-2021
• Basic Statistic Deaths from drug misuse in England and Wales 2022, by gender and age
• Basic Statistic Drug-related deaths in Scotland 2000-2021
• Premium Statistic Drug-related deaths in Scotland 2021, by drug reported
• Premium Statistic Drug-related deaths in Scotland 2021, by age and gender

Cause of death from drug poisoning in England and Wales 2022, by gender

Number of deaths from drug poisoning by underlying cause and gender in England and Wales in 2022, by gender

Deaths from drug poisoning by opiates in England and Wales 1993-2022

Number of deaths from drug poisoning by opiates in England and Wales from 1993 to 2022

Heroin & methadone related deaths in England and Wales 2019, by gender

Number of heroin and methadone related deaths in England and Wales in 2019, by gender

Number of drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales 1993-2021

Number of drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales from 1993 to 2021

Deaths from drug misuse in England and Wales 2022, by gender and age

Number of deaths from drug misuse by gender and age in England and Wales in 2022

Drug-related deaths in Scotland 2000-2021

Annual number of drug-related deaths in Scotland from 2000 to 2021

Drug-related deaths in Scotland 2021, by drug reported

Number of drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2021, by drug reported*

Drug-related deaths in Scotland 2021, by age and gender

Number of drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2021, by age and gender

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Do you use drugs? How many? Why?

Do you use drugs? How many? Why? These are among the questions posed in the latest European Web Survey on Drugs , launched today by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) . Targeted at people, aged 18 and over, who have used drugs, the survey aims to improve understanding of patterns of drug use in Europe and help shape future drug policies and interventions.

The voluntary, anonymous survey — one of the agency’s targeted ‘ leading-edge’ monitoring methods — will run this year in 36 countries in around 30 languages. As in previous years, it will be promoted nationally by the Reitox focal points and their partners, as well as through targeted social media advertisements.

For the second time, the agency’s partners from the Western Balkans and the European Neighbourhood Policy area through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance ( IPA 8 ) and EU4Monitoring Drugs ( EU4MD II ) projects are also participating, bridging an important data gap in the regions.

Web-based surveys have the benefit of reaching people who use drugs directly. They are quick and cheap to set up, provide new data rapidly and can help spot emerging trends. If the same questions are used, along with a rigorous translation process, then these surveys can also allow for cross-national comparisons.

The new questionnaire, which will run for six weeks, is structured in modules on: socio-demographics, drug using patterns, access to drugs (amounts usually bought and prices paid) and with a deeper focus on the patterns of cannabis use. Its findings will contribute to the emerging knowledge base on drug-using practices in Europe. This will help enhance market size estimates at national and European level and contribute to policy development more widely.

While web surveys are not representative of the general population, when carefully conducted and combined with traditional data-collection methods, they can help paint a more detailed, realistic and timely picture of drug use and drug markets in Europe. As such, they are a key ingredient in the EMCDDA’s responsiveness to an ever-shifting drugs problem.

To date, four rounds of the EWSD have been implemented, with 33 countries and over 150 000 respondents participating in the survey.

European Web Survey webpage Methodology video: Why a European Web Survey on Drugs? (2021) Promotional video

On 2 July 2024, the EMCDDA will become the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) with a broader mandate.

News release N 6/2024

•  English [PDF - 191.59 KB]

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Ryan Garcia's B-sample comes back positive for banned substance as legal team denies intentional use

Garcia's big win over devin haney earlier this month could be in jeopardy.

Ryan Garcia shocked the boxing world on April 20 when he dropped Devin Haney three times en route to a majority decision victory. There was already an asterisk next to that victory after Garcia badly missed weight ahead of the bout, but things have continued to get worse for him after a second positive drug test.

On Thursday, the lab results for Garcia's B-sample came back with an adverse finding for the banned substance ostarine, according to multiple reports. This comes after Garcia reportedly failed a VADA drug test administered ahead of the fight. VADA tested Garcia the day before and the day after the Haney fight.

Garcia reacted to the news by writing, "I F---ING LOVE STEROID" in a since-deleted social media post. He followed it up with a toned-down post reading, "No babe."

In a statement to CBS Sports on Thursday, Garcia's legal team insisted that he has never intentionally used a banned substance.

"Ryan Garcia is committed to clean and fair competition and has never intentionally used any banned substance," Garcia's legal team wrote. "Soon after being notified of his positive test, Ryan voluntarily had his hair collected and shipped to Dr. Pascal Kintz, the foremost expert in toxicology and hair-sample analysis. The results of Ryan's hair sample came back negative. This is consistent with contamination and demonstrably proves that Ryan had not ingested Ostarine over a period of time — the only way he would have had any advantage whatsoever in the ring. "Ryan has voluntarily submitted to tests throughout his career, which have always shown negative results. He also tested negative multiple times leading up to the fight against Haney. All of these factors, combined with his ultra-low levels from samples taken on April 19th and 20th (in the billionth of a gram range), point to Ryan being a victim of supplement contamination and never receiving any performance-enhancing benefit from the microscopic amounts in his system. We are certain that one of the natural supplements Ryan was using in the lead-up to the fight will prove to be contaminated and are in the process of testing the supplements to determine the exact source."

Veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael was the report Garcia's failed test on May 1 for ostarine. Rafael noted that Garcia tested positive on April 19 -- the day before the fight -- and on April 20 during his post-fight evaluation. ESPN then reported that they had obtained a VADA letter confirming the situation.

After a social media post featuring three crying emojis and "lol," Garcia briefly went live on X .

"You guys can see fake news," Garcia said earlier this month. "Fake f---ing news. Don't believe these f---ers. I never f---ing took a steroid in my f---ing life. I don't even know how that shit, it's the weirdest shit ever. "Supposedly they had it already, but they release it after I win? It makes no sense. I tested the day of the fight, nothing. ... Somebody paying somebody."

No babe — RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) May 23, 2024

Garcia had reportedly been cleared previously of a separate potential positive drug test for the 19-Norandrosterone metabolite, which derives from the banned substance nandrolone. The two positive ostarine tests are likely enough to impact his career.

Potential punishments for the failed tests could include a suspension, fines or having the fight result overturned to a no contest. Haney's team had previously filed a letter with the New York State Athletic Commission requesting that Garcia be disqualified, amending the result of their fight to a DQ win for Haney, according to  Boxing Scene . More likely, the bout will be ruled a no-contest.

Garcia spent the build to the fight engaging in bizarre behavior which included ranting on social media about various conspiracy theories, claiming to be in possession of proof of aliens and claiming to be drinking alcohol regularly, which he admitted after the fight.

After the win, Garcia claimed this was all part of an elaborate plan to "troll" boxing fans, media and Haney and his team. Were that the case, the plan appeared to work perfectly as Garcia pulled off the biggest win of his career. With the test samples coming back positive, however, the result of the fight may be overturned to a no contest.

Of course, Garcia missing weight by more than 3 pounds meant that Garcia was ineligible to win Haney's WBC junior welterweight championship. The fight was originally planned as Garcia's first shot at a world championship, as well as an opportunity to prove he could hang with the sport's elite after getting dropped twice and stopped by Gervonta "Tank" Davis in 2023.

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Ozempic use among children and young adults soars by 600%

The report shows that the number of 12- to 25-year-olds using any glp-1 drugs climbed by almost 600%, article bookmarked.

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At 17, Israel McKenzie was so burdened by obesity that he stopped going to high school in person and was embarrassed to speak to people at his restaurant job.

“I was in a really dark place,” says McKenzie, whose weight had climbed to 335 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame, despite repeated efforts to diet and exercise. “I had given up hope.”

But last year, the weight-loss drug Wegovy helped him shed 110 pounds in nine months, making the rural Tennessee teen part of a surge of adolescents and young adults using diabetes and obesity medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, new research shows.

Even as millions of older adults clamor for drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, monthly use of the medications soared in people aged 12 to 25. That’s according to the new analysis of dispensing records from nearly 94% of U.S. retail pharmacies from 2020 to 2023.

The report, published in the journal JAMA on Wednesday, used the IQVIA prescription database to compile the first look at the national uptake of GLP-1 drugs among that age group. Nearly 31,000 children aged 12 to 17 and more than 162,000 people aged 18 to 25 used the medications in 2023 alone, said Dr. Joyce Lee, a University of Michigan pediatrician and diabetes expert who led the research.

“What it’s suggesting is that it’s one of the tools in the toolbox and there are more providers prescribing this medication for the population,” she said.

The report shows that the number of 12- to 25-year-olds using any GLP-1 drug — including older medications first approved to treat diabetes in 2005 and for weight loss in 2014 — climbed from about 8,700 a month in 2020 to more than 60,000 a month in 2023, a nearly 600% increase. The rise occurred even as prescriptions of other drugs among those patients fell by about 3%.

Those who received the drugs were just a fraction of young people who struggle with obesity, Lee noted. About 20% of U.S. children and adolescents and about 42% of adults have the chronic disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In early 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that children and teens with obesity be evaluated early and treated aggressively, including with surgery and medication if warranted.

McKenzie, the Tennessee teen, said he began gaining weight five years ago, during puberty.

“I started turning to food for all of my problems,” he said.

The extra weight made his asthma worse and put him in danger of developing diabetes, his doctor said. He tried to follow medical advice by cutting out sugary soda and snack foods and exercising more, but the efforts failed to make a difference.

“My old doctor told me there was nothing he could do,” he said. “He told me it was my fault.”

In early 2023, McKenzie connected with Dr. Joani Jack, a pediatric obesity specialist at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who regularly prescribes GLP-1 drugs for kids.

“I told him I’ve seen 10 other people just like you today and we have lots of tools and treatment options,” Jack said. Those typically include intensive behavioral and nutrition interventions combined with medication, if necessary.

In McKenzie’s case, Jack prescribed the weight-loss drug Wegovy, which in late 2022 was approved for use in U.S. children over age 12. More than 6,000 kids in that age group received Wegovy in 2023, the new data show. More than 7,600 received Ozempic, which is approved to treat diabetes in adults, but can be used off-label in adolescents. Others received older GLP-1 drugs such as Saxenda and Trulicity.

McKenzie said he had no notable side effects from the medication, but Lee noted that some young people report nausea, vomiting or constipation, including symptoms so serious that they stop the drugs.

It's important to understand the surging use of these medications in young people, Lee said. The drugs are meant for continuing use, so “we really need to think about the long-term safety and effectiveness of these medications for this population,” she said.

In addition, the drugs are expensive and often difficult to obtain, either because of supply problems or because they’re not covered by insurance.

Notably, government-run Medicaid plans paid for nearly half of the GLP-1 drugs prescribed to 12- to 17-year-olds and about a quarter of those used by people aged 18 to 25, the research found. Commercial insurance covered care for nearly 44% of the younger kids and about two-thirds of those who were older.

Today, McKenzie says his asthma is better and he looks forward to interacting with co-workers and friends.

“I have a lot of self-confidence now, a lot more than I used to,” he said. “It has changed everything.”

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• Drug Safety Update

Letters and medicine recalls sent to healthcare professionals in April 2024

A summary of recent letters and notifications sent to healthcare professionals about medicines and medical devices, and information about the publication of two recent Device Safety Information pages. The article also includes information on a recent National Patient Safety Alert highlighting the need for reducing risks for transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO).

National Patient Safety Alert: Reducing risks for transfusion-associated circulatory overload (NatPSA/2024/004/MHRA)

On 4 April, we issued a National Patient Safety Alert to highlight the need to reduce risks for transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO).

TACO is one of the most common causes of transfusion-related deaths in the UK and cases have increased substantially in recent years. Identifying risk factors for TACO prior to transfusion allows initiation of appropriate mitigating measures.

In April 2024, the following letters were sent or provided to relevant healthcare professionals:

• Levemir® InnoLet® 100 units/ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen (insulin detemir), Insulatard® InnoLet® 100 international units/ml suspension for injection in pre-filled pen (insulin isophane human), NovoTwist® 5mm needles (32G), NovoFine® 6mm needles (31G), NovoFine® 8mm needles (30G), NovoFine® Autocover® needle (30G) and NovoFine® Remover: DISCONTINUATION
• Sandimmun concentrate for solution for infusion 50mg/ml (ciclosporin): Interim Supply of German Stock to Mitigate Supply Disruption
• Wegovy® 0.5 mg, solution for injection in pre-filled pen (semaglutide): Interim supply of Swiss Stock to Mitigate Supply Disruption
• Mounjaro® ▼(tirzepatide) 2.5 mg KwikPen® solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Extended Use Beyond Printed Expiry Date, Batches D712074, D720751, D720957
• Lanreotide ADVANZ PHARMA 120 mg solution for injection in pre-filled syringe (Lanreotide acetate) Interim Supply of German Stock to Mitigate Supply Disruption
• Adoport (tacrolimus) 0.75mg hard capsules Interim Supply of Nordic Stock
• Tegretol® 100 mg/5ml Liquid (Carbamazepine): Temporary stock-out and update to posology (reduction of maximum daily dose)

Medicine Recalls and Notifications

In April 2024, recalls and notifications for medicines were issued on:

Class 3 Medicines Recall: Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, OPDIVO 10 mg/mL concentrate for solution for infusion (nivolumab), EL(24)A/11 . Issued 4 April 2024. Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited has informed the MHRA that a potential product quality issue has been detected, relating to incomplete crimping of the metal crimp cap of OPDIVO 10mg/mL concentrate for solution for infusion (nivolumab) (1VLX10ML). Healthcare professionals are advised to stop using the above batches immediately.

Class 3 Medicines Recall: Accord-UK Ltd, Co-Codamol 8/500mg Effervescent Tablets (Key Pharmaceuticals Livery), EL (24)A/12 . Issued 10 April 2024. Accord-UK Ltd is recalling a specific batch of Co-Codamol 8/500mg Effervescent Tablets (Key Pharmaceuticals Livery) as a precautionary measure due to the internal tablet blister strips being printed with an incorrect expiry date. Only packs from the specified batch are affected. Healthcare professionals are advised to stop supplying the above batch immediately.

Class 3 Medicines Recall: A. Menarini Farmaceutica Internazionale Srl, Invokana 300mg tablets (Northern Ireland only), EL(24)A/13 . Issued on 16 April 2024. A. Menarini Farmaceutica Internazionale Srl is recalling the above batch as a precautionary measure due to the distribution of Invokana 300mg in Northern Ireland in packaging intended for the Greek market. This affects Invokana 300mg (30 tablets) in Northern Ireland only. Healthcare professionals are advised to stop supplying the above batch immediately.

Class 3 Medicines Recall: Neon Healthcare Ltd, Suprefact 1 mg/ml solution for injection (Cheplapharm – Canadian Livery), EL(24)A/14 . Issued 23 April 2024. Neon Healthcare Ltd is recalling the specific batch mentioned in this notification as a precautionary measure. This is because the named batch of Suprefact 1mg/ml solution for injection is being distributed in packaging intended for the Canadian market by Cheplapharm, instead of the correct UK packaging. Stop supplying the above batch immediately. Wholesalers are also requested to check stock of Buserelin 1 mg/ml solution for injection for any packs that match Suprefact 1 mg/ml solution for injection (MAH: Cheplapharm – Canadian Livery) as per the product images in the alert.

Medical Device Safety Information

We recently published Device Safety Information pages on the following topics:

0.9% Sodium Chloride Solutions for Irrigation, Inhalation, and Eyewash: recall from manufacturer Legency Remedies, DSI/2024/004 . Issued on 4 April 2024. Batches of Legency Remedies Pvt Ltd irrigation, inhalation and eye wash saline products manufactured between April and November 2023 are being recalled due to potential microbiological contamination with Ralstonia pickettii (R. pickettii). For additional information please refer to the Device Safety Information page and the Field Safety Notice .

Symbios ORIGIN® Posterior Stabilised Patient-Matched Total Knee Replacement Device: Risk of Early Revision, DSI/2024/005 . Issued 23 April 2024. The MHRA was alerted by Beyond Compliance and the UK National Joint Registry (NJR) to a significantly higher revision rate observed with the ORIGIN PS patient-matched total knee replacement. The ORIGIN PS variant, raised as a level 1 outlier, demonstrates a revision rate (per 100 patient years) that is at least two times higher than all other bicondylar knee replacements in the UK. This issue currently appears to be UK-specific as other international registries do not show the same increase in early revision surgeries.

As a precautionary measure, Symbios Orthopédie SA has initiated a voluntary suspension of all further sales and implantations, alongside a recall of all variants of the ORIGIN device family within the UK. This will be until such a time that further evidence is gathered and assessed. For additional information, please refer to the Device Safety Information page and the Field Safety Notice .

Article citation: Drug Safety Update volume 17, issue 10: May 2024: 2

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