The National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) provides information about the number of deaths by drug and alcohol poisoning; and deaths among drug users and people who are alcohol dependent in Ireland. The most recent bulletin (with 2022 data) was published in December 2025.

• There were 343 drug poisoning deaths were recorded in Ireland in 2022. This represents an 8% decrease on 2021 (373 deaths). It is the second consecutive year that these deaths have fallen.
• Rise in cocaine - Cocaine was the second most common drug overall in 2022. It was involved in one in three drug poisoning deaths that year. In 2022, 8 in 10 deaths involving cocaine also involved other drugs, most commonly heroin, methadone and other prescription drugs. Between 2013-2022 cocaine poisoning deaths increased by 259%, the largest increase of any drug group*.
• The people behind the statistics - In 2022, the median age was 45 years for men, and 46 for women. Two in five people had a history of mental health issues. Almost one in two were alone when the poisoning occurred. Almost one in ten were injecting at the time of death. At least two in five were not in employment; most were living in stable accommodation; almost half lived in Dublin (city or county); and more than one in 10 were experiencing homelessness.
• Drug poisoning deaths in men versus women - Men account for the majority of drug poisoning deaths, similar to previous years. Cocaine was the top drug implicated and was involved in two in five of male deaths in 2022. Cocaine was followed by methadone, alprazolam and diazepam. For women, methadone was the top drug involved in poisoning deaths in 2022, when it was implicated in three in ten of these deaths. Methadone was followed by diazepam and pregabalin. Most heroin deaths (82%) were among men. Gabapentinoid/antiepileptic drugs, including pregabalin, were implicated in a greater proportion of deaths among women, as were antidepressants.
• Opioids and other drugs - While cocaine and heroin were the main illicit drugs implicated in drug poisoning deaths in 2022, the majority involved prescribable drugs. Almost 8 in 10 poisonings involved more than one drug. The most common drugs involved were methadone, diazepam, alprazolam, pregabalin, and Zopiclone. Opioids accounted for two in three deaths. Methadone was the most common opioid, and most deaths involving methadone were polysubstance poisonings. Methadone increased 31% between 2013 and 2022 but decreased 19% between 2020 and 2022. Heroin also decreased 11% over the period 2013 to 2022, with a notable decrease of 36% between 2020 and 2022.
• Alcohol-related deaths - In 2022, alcohol was implicated in one in five deaths, along with other drugs. Alcohol as part of polysubstance poisoning decreased 26% between 2020 and 2022.

Related NDRDI publication, published May 2025 - Deaths among people who were homeless at time of death in Ireland, 2021 . 

  All HRB drug-related deaths articles and reports

This page was last updated in December 2025