This briefing provides a review of 332 opiate related deaths investigated by the Dublin City and County Coroner from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2001. The mean age of those who died was 29.1 and the male : female ratio was 6.7 : 1. 88.6% of decedents resided within Local Drug Task Force area. A single drug was implicated in a minority of fatalities. Benzodiazepines were implicated in the highest number of fatalities (67.5%); followed by heroin (61.7%); methadone (57.2%) and alcohol (47%). The author concludes that some opiate related deaths are preventable and that opiate users should be aware of the signs and symtoms of an overdose.