Codeine was implicated in the deaths of 51 people between 2008 and 2010, the Medical Independent (MI) has learned.

According to the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) there were 51 poisoning deaths where codeine was implicated, either on its own or with other drugs or substances, between 2008 and 2010. In 2008 it was implicated in the deaths of 12 people, 20 in 2009 and 19 in 2010.

According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, the number of addiction patients reporting codeine as a problem substance rose from 180 to 198 between 2009 and 2010. Most of the patients being treated were aged between 25 and 44 years of age. While women made up the majority of patients at 103, the number of men receiving treatment rose from 75 to 95. The number of women was the same in both years. Overall the number of treated addiction cases rose from 15,472 to 17,012 during the period.