Drug-related deaths, whether intentional or accidental represent a significant source of mortality worldwide (World Health organisation, 2020). The risk of mortality for those who use drugs has been estimated at three to seven times that of the general population (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2019). To help tackle the issue of drug related deaths, it is important that patterns and trends are monitored. In Ireland, since 2004, the Health Research Board (HRB) have produced the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI). This compiles information on drug related deaths. This insights report will examine drugs deaths with a view to informing policy and facilitating the implementation of existing strategies such as the National Drug and Alcohol Strategy (Department of Health, 2017). It will present data covering 2008-2017 for poisonings and non-poisonings (HRB,  2019a,b). Poisonings (overdose) are deaths due to the toxic effects of a drug or a combination of drugs. Non-poisoning deaths are deaths where someone has a history of drug dependency or non dependent use of drugs, whether or not drug use was directly implicated in the death. They are deaths as a result of trauma such as hanging or medical reasons such as a cardiac event (HRB, 2019a). We would like to acknowledge the assistance of the HRB in providing data for this report.