This paper describes, for the first time, trends in alcohol-related deaths and deaths among people who were alcohol dependent in Ireland, as recorded by the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) for the years 2004−2008.

The main findings of the analysis are:
The NDRDI recorded 672 poisoning deaths in which alcohol was implicated in the five-year period. This total comprised almost equal numbers of alcohol-only poisonings and alcohol polysubstance (alcohol plus other substance/s) poisonings.

The annual number fluctuated over the period, being highest in 2007 (170 deaths) and lowest in 2006 (111 deaths). Alcohol was the substance most frequently implicated in all fatal poisonings in Ireland in the five-year period.

The majority of all poisoning deaths were male. The median age of those who died of alcohol-only poisoning was 48 years, while the median age of those who died of alcohol polysubstance poisoning was 41 years.

The drugs most frequently implicated along with alcohol in polysubstance poisonings were benzodiazepines (61.3%) and opiates (including heroin and methadone) (55.7%). The NDRDI recorded 3,336 non-poisoning deaths of people who were alcohol dependent, with the annual number increasing from 508 in 2004 to 799 in 2008. The vast majority (89.2%) of the deaths were due to medical causes; 10.8% were due to traumatic causes.

In the five-year period, alcoholic liver disease (23.6%), cardiac conditions (17.2%) and respiratory infections (11.4%) were the most common medical causes of death among those who were alcohol dependent. The median age was 59 years and almost two thirds (65.2%) were aged 64 years or under