HC Deb 17 May 1976 vol 911 cc420-1W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many deaths there were in each of the last five years from drug misuse;

(2) how many deaths have occurred in the last five years as a result of the misuse of drugs which were obtained illegally:

(3) how many people under the age of 21 years have died in each of the last five years because of drug abuse; and in how many cases these drugs were obtained illegally.

Drug 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
Opium, opium alkaloids and their derivatives 13 11 2 7 12 10
Synthetic analgesics with morphine-like effects 3 1 3 3 3 7
Barbiturates 11 6 14 21 20 21
Other hypnotics and sedatives or tranquilisers 4 1 1 1 2 3
Cocaine
Cannabis sativa
Other psycho-stimulants 1 2 1
Hallucogenics
Other 14 8 7 18 16 15
Unspecified 7 6 9 7 11 16
TOTALS 53 33 38 58 64 72

It is not possible to separate from these totals details of those deaths resulting from drugs obtained illegally.