HC Deb 11 June 1974 vol 874 c500W
28. Mr. Loveridge

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths occurred from barbiturate poisoning in each of the past 10 years.

Dr. Owen

The numbers of deaths from barbiturate poisoning in England and Wales in each of the 10 years, 1963–72, were:

1963 1,864
1964 1,998
1965 2,015
1966 2,055
1967 2,048
1968 1,934
1969 2,080
1970 1,973
1971 1,990
1972 1,846

The figures for the years 1968 onwards are not strictly comparable with those for earlier years because of changes in the International Classification of Diseases introduced in 1968.