This annual publication presents a comprehensive analysis of health inequality gaps between the most and least deprived areas of Northern Ireland, and within health and social care (HSC) trust and local government district (LGD) areas. The report is accompanied by downloadable data tables which contain all figures including district electoral areas (DEA) as well as urban and rural breakdowns.

Alcohol, smoking & drugs p.29 - Alcohol, smoking and drugs related indicators continue to present some of the largest health inequalities in NI. The deprivation gap for drug misuse deaths widened over the analysed period and showed the largest inequality gap, where mortality in the most deprived areas was almost six times that of the least deprived. The gap for smoking attributable mortality also widened over the analysed period however rates improved in the most and least deprived areas. While inequality gaps in alcohol and drug related admissions narrowed over the period, the observed decreases in admission rates may be due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital services. Drug related, drug misuse and alcohol specific death rates all increased over the period both regionally and in the most and least deprived areas.