HC Deb 07 July 1998 vol 315 cc434-5W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times(a) heroin, (b) ecstasy, (c) cocaine, (d) LSD, (e) cannabis, (f) amphetamines, (g) temazepam, (h) paracetamol, (i) alcohol, (j) solvents, (k) co-proxamol, (l) methadone and (m) tobacco have appeared on death certificates in each year between 1992 and 1996. [48070]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 30 June 1998]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated July 1998: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on deaths. Data for 1992 may be obtained from Table 10 of Mortality Statistics: Injury and Poisoning 1992, Series DH4 no.18, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. The attached table lists all substances mentioned in the records of deaths assigned to accidental and other poisoning by solid or liquid substances. 1992 data on cases of drug dependence or non-dependent abuse of drugs would only be available at disproportionate cost. Often a number of drugs (including alcohol) are listed on the death certificate. If, for example, both heroin and cannabis are mentioned on a death certificate, the death will occur twice in the table, once under 'Heroin' and once under 'Cannabis'.

Deaths in England and Wales 1993–1996
1993 1994 1995 1996
Heroin 55 90 129 187
Ecstasy 13 23 10 12
Cocaine 12 21 19 15
LSD 0 1 0 0
Cannabis 9 12 10 4
Amphetamines 22 20 40 29
Temazepam 179 165 140 95
Paracetamol1 324 278 331 288
Alcohol 3,240 3,457 4,018 4,372

Deaths in England and Wales 1993–1996
1993 1994 1995 1996
Solvents2 57 49 57 n/a
Co-proxamol 133 176 174 177
Methadone 221 259 299 357
Tobacco 58 47 48 29
1 Figures are for mentions of the word 'paracetamol' only and not any of the associated compounds, although co-proxamol has been given separately as requested
2 Data supplied by St. George's Hospital Medical School and include those deaths involving all volatile substances. Figures for 1996 will appear shortly in their report 'Trends in Deaths Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971–1996. Report 11'