HRB National Drugs Library
Deaths Data
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 2021 data) was published in September 2024.
There were 354 drug poisoning deaths recorded in 2021, a decrease from 439 drug poisoning deaths in 2020. Opioids (mainly methadone) were the most common drug group reported, accounting for seven-in-ten deaths in 2021. Two-in-three deaths (64%) were among males and one-in-three (36%) were among females.
Key findings
- Opioids (69%), benzodiazepines (53%), and antidepressants (35%) were the three most common drug groups implicated in poisoning deaths overall
- The majority of deaths involved prescribable drugs, the most common being methadone (129), diazepam (112), alprazolam (107), pregabalin (83), and Zopiclone (59)
- The most common illicit drugs involved in the deaths were cocaine (107) and heroin (79)
- Eight-in-ten deaths involved more than one drug (polysubstance poisonings)
- Alcohol was implicated in one-in-three polysubstance poisonings
- Opioids were implicated in seven-in-ten deaths of those who were alone at the time of death
- One-in-five (18%) of the deceased were known to have ever injected drugs. 23 people (7%) were known to be injecting at the time of death
- Almost one-in-two of the deceased had a recorded history of mental health issues.
Socio-demographic characteristics of people who died from poisoning
- The median age of the deceased was 42.5 years (41 years for males and 47 years for females)
- One in two deaths were among people aged 35 to 54 years
- Most (77%) of the deceased were living in stable accommodation
- More than 1 in 10 of the deceased were experiencing homelessness
- Most were residing in the HSE Dublin and North East (28.5%) health region, followed by HSE Dublin and Midlands (23%), and HSE Dublin and South East (18%)
Related NDRDI publication, published May 2025 - Deaths among people who were homeless at time of death in Ireland, 2021 .
The information is used to develop health and social service responses aimed at reducing the number of deaths. The number of drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users is one of the European Union Drugs Agency key indicators to measure the consequences of drug use. The National Drug-Related Death Index Steering Committee provides advice to the researchers on the development of the data collection protocol, the methodology for interpreting inconclusive cases, and pathology and toxicology
Staff from the NDRDI collect data from Coroner Service files relating to all deaths among alcohol dependent person, all deaths where a history of drug use was recorded or where drug or alcohol misuse was implicated in the death. Data from the other agencies is collected in electronic format.
The data is collected from a number of sources, including:
- The Coroner Service;
- The General Mortality Register;
- The Central Treatment List;
- HIPE
- HSE PCRS
The information collected includes:
- Administrative details
- Demographic details
- Socio-economic information
- Problem drug use at the time of death
- Risk behaviours
- Drug treatment history
- Details about the death itself
- Medical diagnosis.
This information is used to define accurately the extent of the problem, to inform policy and to assess the effectiveness of responses aimed at preventing deaths from drug or alcohol misuse. The Health Research Board is the data controller with overall responsibility for the data.
For researchers, and all others requiring data, please complete the National Health Information Systems (NHIS) data request form and accept the terms and conditions for use of NDRDI data. The form is a PDF in editable format and when filled out can be returned to: ndrdi@hrb.ie.
This page was last updated in May 2025