HC Deb 25 June 1998 vol 314 cc617-8W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug-related deaths occurred in each of the past 10 years. [47510]

Mrs. Liddell

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 Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 25 June 1998: As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the number of drug-related deaths occurring in each of the past 10 years.

The data requested are shown in the table below:

Deaths from drug-related causes in England and Wales, 1988–97
Year Number of deaths
1988 2,061
1989 1,942
1990 2,041
1991 2,053
1992 2,287
1993 2,252
1994 2,405
1995 2,563
1996 2,722
1997 2,816

Note:

Deaths data for the years 1988–1992 and 1997 correspond to deaths registered in the year, deaths data for the years 1993–1996 relate to deaths that occurred during the year

The deaths correspond to those with an underlying cause of death of drug psychoses, drug dependence, non-dependent abuse of drugs, accidental poisoning by drug or medicament, suicidal poisoning by drug or medicament, poisoning by drug or medicament undetermined whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted, or assault by poisoning-drugs and medicaments.

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