In 2021, 354 drug poisoning deaths were recorded in Ireland. This equates to seven deaths per 100,000 of the population in that year. The deceased were 227 (64.1%) males and 127 (35.9%) females.

Opioids (68.9%), benzodiazepines (52.8%), and antidepressants (35.0%) were the three mostcommon drug groups implicated in poisoning deaths overall. The main specific drugs implicated were methadone (36.4%), diazepam (31.6%), alprazolam (30.2%), cocaine (30.2%), alcohol (25.7%), and pregabalin (23.4%).

• Methadone was implicated in more than 1 in 3 (36.4%) deaths and in a greater proportion of deaths among males (38.3%) than among females (33.1%).
• Heroin was implicated in 1 in 5 (22.3%) deaths; these were mostly among males (83.5%).
• Diazepam (31.6%) and alprazolam (30.2%) were the most common benzodiazepines, and each was implicated in 3 in 10 deaths overall.
• Antidepressants were implicated in a greater proportion of deaths among females (47.2%) than among males (28.2%). Mirtazapine (13.6%) was the most common antidepressant.
• Cocaine was implicated in 3 in 10 (30.2%) poisoning deaths overall, the majority (4 in 5) (81.3%) of which were among males.
• Pregabalin was implicated in almost 1 in 4 (23.4%) deaths and in a greater proportion of deaths among females (28.3%) than among males (20.7%).
• In 2021, 4 in 5 (81.4%, 288) drug poisoning deaths were polysubstance poisonings (more than one drug was implicated).
• Methadone (40.6%), diazepam (38.9%), alprazolam (36.5%), cocaine (31.6%), alcohol (31.6%), pregabalin (28.5%), and heroin (25.3%) were the most common drugs in polysubstance poisonings.
• Over 1 in 5 (22.9%) polysubstance poisoning deaths had more than one opioid implicated, while almost 3 in 10 (28.3%) had more than one benzodiazepine implicated.