HC Deb 17 April 2000 vol 348 cc372-3W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on death caused by(a) Dothiepin and (b) other anti-depressant drugs. [118889]

Mr. Timms

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Kidgell to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 17 April 2000: The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), has been asked to reply to your recent question on the causes of death from Dothiepin and other anti-depressant drugs. I am replying in the Director's absence. Information on the underlying causes of drug-related deaths where Dothiepin or other antidepressants are mentioned is given in the attached table. The data has been extracted from the ONS drug-related deaths database.

Number of drug-related deaths with a mention of Dothiepin or other anti-depressants by underlying cause, England and Wales usual residents, 1993–97
Underlying cause of death1 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Dothiepin2
Drug dependence/abuse 3 1 4 5 2
Accident 40 38 34 44 37
Suicide and Undetermined 155 207 190 218 261
Drug Psychoses/assault 0 0 0 0 0
Total 198 246 228 267 255
Other Anti-depressants3
Drug Dependence/abuse 3 5 5 5 6
Accident 59 37 47 68 52
Suicide and Undetermined 194 183 206 197 221
Drug Psychoses/assault 0 0 0 0 0
Total 256 225 258 270 279
1 The underlying cause of death are categorised as follows:
Deaths with the underlying cause codes 304, 305.2-9, using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate Deaths with the underlying cause codes E850-E858, using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate Deaths with the underlying cause codes E950.0-5, E980.0-5, using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate
Deaths with the underlying cause codes 292, E962.0. using ICD9 where the named substance was mentioned on the death certificate
2 These figures for Dothiepin include all deaths where drugs containing Dothiepin Hydrochloride were mentioned (including any mention of the brand name Prothiaden)
3 Death with a mention of antidepressants but with no mention of drugs containing dothiepin hydrochloride