Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2000

Vol. 513 No. 1

Written Answers. - Drug Related Deaths.

Bernard Allen

Question:

440 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the recent disclosure by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction that this country has the highest rate of drug related deaths in the EU. [1313/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction – EMCDDA – publishes an annual report on the state of the drugs problem in the European Union. A major task of the centre is to provide information that is objective, reliable and comparable. The Health Research Board is the focal point for Ireland and it provides an annual report on Irish data to the EMCDDA for inclusion in the European report.

The 1999 EMCDDA report presented a figure on page 39 showing trends in the rate of change of drug related deaths in the period 1991/7, taking the 1991 figure as the baseline. The number of drug related deaths in Ireland in 1997 was 52, compared to seven in 1991. As the 1991 figure was so small, the 1997 figure indicates a significant upward trend. However, in countries where the baseline numbers are higher the upward trend over the period is not as marked. The point is made on the report that the markedly increasing trend in recent years in Ireland may be partly related to under-reporting in previous years. Figures for each year are outlined as follows:

Year	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997
No. ofacutedrugrelateddeaths	7	14	16	19	39	50	52

The drug misuse division of the Health Research Board is working with the agencies involved in recording drug related deaths to improve the reporting system. It held a workshop last August, involving the Dublin City Coroner, the Central Statistics Office, the Garda Síochána and health service personnel to examine how the reliability of reports of drug related deaths could be further improved. In the past death certificates often gave the main cause of death as a medical condition other than drug use, although drug use may have been implicated in the death.

The upward trend in the rate of change of drug related deaths is due to a number of factors, including more awareness and better recording practices as well as some real increase in the number of deaths. This information signals the need to continue education and prevention efforts and to provide appropriate treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare to people who need such services. It acknowledges that because drug use is often linked to social inclusion a broader and more thorough analysis of the problem is required to develop effective strategies to respond effectively to the problem and to prevent a continued upward trend.

My Department, in conjunction with other relevant Departments, health boards and a range of statutory and voluntary agencies will continue to work in a co-ordinated fashion to tackle the problem and to halt the upward trend in drug misuse and related ill-health and deaths.