HC Deb 04 December 2002 vol 395 cc834-5W
John Mann

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases methadone appeared on death certificates in each of the last 10 years. [85035]

Ruth Kelly

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger to John Mann, dated 4 December 2002:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question asking in how many cases methadone appears on the death certificate in each of the last ten years. I am replying in his absence. (85035)

Figures for deaths related to drug poisoning are currently available for 1993 to 2000 for England and Wales. The information requested is given in the table below:

Deaths where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate1, persons, England and Wales, 1993–20002
Year Number
1993 232
1994 269
1995 310
1996 368
1997 421

Deaths where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate1, persons, England and Wales, 1993–20002
Year Number
1998 364
1999 298
2000 238
1 Selected using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision:
292 (drug psychoses)
304 (drug dependence).
305.2–305.9 (non-dependent abuse of drugs).
E850–E858 (accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biologicals)
E950.0–E950.5 (suicide and self-inflicted poisoning by solid or liquid substances).
E980.0–E980.5(poisoning by solid or liquid substances, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted).
E962.0 (assault by poisoning—drugs and medicaments).
where methadone was also mentioned on the death certificate.
2 Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.

Source:

Office for National Statistics (2002) Report: Deaths related to drug poisoning: results for England and Wales, 1993–2000. Health Statistics Quarterly 13, 76–82.