Deaths related to monkey dust: 2010 to 2025

FOI reference: FOI-2026-3610

You asked

I request statistics on the number of deaths related to "monkey dust" (the class B drug chemically known as MDPHP or MDPV) within Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the broader Staffordshire area respectively. 

I would like this information to include the number of related deaths from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2026. I would like the information to be provided on a year-by-year basis. 

We said

Thank you for your request. 

The accompanying excel spreadsheet named 'FOI-2026-3610 - deaths involving MDPHP or MDPV 2017 to 2024' contains a data table showing the number of deaths where MDPHP or MDPV was mentioned on the death certificate or the coroners' text. Cells where there are fewer than three deaths have been suppressed to minimise the risk of identification. 

Please note that these figures are for deaths registered in each year from 2017 to 2024. There were no deaths registered prior to 2017 where these substances were mentioned. We have not yet created analysis on deaths registered in 2025 and are still in the data collection period for 2026, so we do not currently hold this information. 

When data for 2025 and 2026 become available, we would be able to provide an update via our user requested data service. For more information on this, please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk.