HC Deb 24 January 1984 vol 52 cc552-3W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths were caused by drug abuse during 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 and 1982.

Mr. John Patten

The following table shows separately numbers of deaths where the underlying cause was drug dependence, non-dependent abuse of drugs, accidental poisoning and other forms of misuse.

Drugs may have been mentioned in the certification of other deaths which have been classified to the condition being treated or to the condition actually causing death but these are not routinely tabulated.