§ Mrs. Irene AdamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths in(a) Scotland and (b) Strathclyde have resulted from the prescribed use of methadone in each year since 1992 and in 1998 to date. [55214]
§ Mr. McLeishThe information is given in the table. The figures cover all deaths in the categories listed where methadone was recorded as being present at the time of death, either alone or in combination with one or more other drugs. Improved procedures for recording information about drug-related deaths were introduced in 1994, therefore comparable information is not available for 1992 and 1993. Information for 1998 is not yet available. It is not possible to identify separately deaths from drugs which have been prescribed.
Deaths involving methadone in: Year Scotland The former Strathclyde region 1994 55 27 1995 58 34 1996 101 36 1997 87 26 Underlying cause of death categories included (codes refer to the International Classification of Diseases etc., ninth revision (ICD 9)):
1138Wdrug dependence (304), nondependent abuse of drugs (305), accidental poisoning (E850—E858), suicidal poisoning (E950—E952) and poisoning undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted (E980—E982).