§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many deaths have been attributed to benzodiazepines in each year for the last 10 years for which records are available; [15585]
(2) how many deaths have been attributed to (a) heroin, (b) methadone, (c) cocaine, (d) morphine and (e) opiates in each year for the last 10 years for which records are available. [15589]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Kidgell to Andrew George, dated 19 November 2001:
137WThe National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions asking how many deaths have been attributed to various types of drugs in each year for the last ten years for which records are available (15585/9). I am replying in his absence.Figures published by the Office for National Statistics are available for 1993 to 1999 inclusive and indicate the number of times substances are mentioned on death certificates. The data are shown below.
Number of deaths in England and Wales where heroin/morphine, methadone, cocaine, benzodiazepines or opiates were mentioned on the death certificate with or without other substances, persons, all ages, Calendar years 1993–1999 Year Heroin/Morphine1 Methadone Cocaine Benzodiazepines Opiates2 1993 187 232 12 280 669 1994 277 269 24 279 820 1995 357 310 19 253 957 1996 466 368 19 230 1,157 1997 445 421 39 248 1,200 1998 646 364 66 245 1,334 1999 754 298 88 240 1,467 1 As heroin breaks down in the body into morphine, the latter may be detected at post mortem and recorded on the death certificate. 2 Opiates include heroin/morphine and methadone. Source:
ONS database of drug-related poisonings