Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2013
480. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have died in the past three years from overdoses of non-prescription use of painkillers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32913/13]
View answerThe Irish National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), which is maintained by the Health Research Board, is an epidemiological database which records deaths in Ireland due to drug and alcohol poisoning, and deaths among drug users and those who are alcohol dependent. I have been advised by the Health Research Board that information on 2010 deaths is the most recent data available. Data on 2011 deaths will not be ready until late 2013. I am further advised by the Health Research Board that while the NDRDI records all drugs or substances implicated in an individual’s death, including both over the counter and prescription medications, data is not available as to whether the prescription medication was prescribed to the deceased or if it was obtained by other means.
In 2010, there were 323 poisoning deaths recorded. Poisoning Deaths are defined as deaths directly due to the toxic effect of the presence in the body of a drug or drugs and/or other substance(s). Other terms used to describe such deaths include overdose, directly drug-related death and acute drug death. Deaths arising from adverse reactions to prescribed medication are not included in the NDRDI. In 2010, analgesic (pain killers) alone (eg paracetamol, solpadine, tramadol, tylex) including an analgesic containing an opiate compound accounted for 2% (7 deaths) of all poisoning deaths.
