Finian McGrath
Question:813 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if there is evidence that medics were the most likely group to suffer from alcohol related deaths. [19750/03]
Written Answers. - Alcohol-Related Illnesses.
The death registration system is the principal source for statistical information on causes of death. Information on specific occupations and professions is recorded as part of death certification in all countries but is known to be subject to many sources of bias, incompleteness and unreliability. For this reason the Central Statistics Office does not provide any analysis of cause of death by specific occupation.
International evidence does however exist which shows that members of the medical profession experience higher than average levels of problems associated with substance abuse, including alcohol. My Department is not aware of specific research carried out in Ireland to measure these risks.