The number of heroin-related deaths increased by 20% in 2009. The latest figures from the Health Research Board (HRB) National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) show a total of 3,334 deaths in the six-year period 2004 to 2009. Of these deaths, 2,015 were due to poisoning and 1,319 were deaths of drug users arising from traumatic or medical causes.

Text: The number of deaths remained stable between 2008 and 2009. There were 638* deaths reported in 2009, compared to 641 in 2008. In the six-year period the number of deaths increased by 51%, from 422 in 2004 to 638 in 2009.

The number of deaths by poisoning in 2009 dropped slightly to 357, from 381 in 2008.

• In 2009, the number of deaths in which heroin was implicated rose by 20% to 108, compared to 90 in 2008. Heroin was implicated in 21% of all deaths by poisoning between 2004 and 2009.
• The number of deaths in which cocaine was implicated dropped for a second year, down to 52 in 2009 from a peak of 67 in 2007.
• Just over half (51%) of all poisoning deaths involved more than one substance.

Alcohol-only poisonings are now included in the NDRDI figures. The figures were updated retrospectively and show that alcohol was involved in 40% of all poisoning deaths in the six-year period, more than any other substance.

Other key findings from the 2009 data on poisoning deaths include:

• Men accounted for 68% of deaths.
• The majority of those who died by poisoning were aged between 25 and 44 years.
• Half of those who died were aged 37 years or under.

The number of deaths among drug users that were due to traumatic or medical causes (non-poisoning deaths) rose to 281* in 2009 from 260 in 2008. The number increased by 81% over the six years, from 155 in 2004 to 281 in 2009.

Of the non-poisoning deaths in 2009, over half (157) were due to trauma, compared to 142 in 2008. The main cause of deaths due to trauma was hanging.

The number of deaths due to medical causes rose to 124 in 2009 from 111 in 2008. The main medical cause of death was a cardiac event.

Dr Suzi Lyons, senior researcher at the HRB said:

‘While the most recent figures suggest a stabilisation in the overall number of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users, we have still seen a significant rise in these deaths in Ireland over the last six years. The inclusion of alcohol-only poisonings in the figures highlights the detrimental impact of alcohol in drug-related deaths, while the rise in the number of deaths where heroin is implicated is also of concern.’