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Written question asked by Ian Gibson (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 27 March 2009. It was answered by Lord Brennan of Canton (Labour) on Monday, 30 March 2009 on behalf of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Death: Drugs

Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deaths by overdose from drugs in Class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answer

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.Letter from Karen Dunnell:"As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths by overdose from drugs in class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available. (267865)""The table attached provides the number of deaths where any drug in class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C was mentioned on the death certificate, in England and Wales, for 2007 (the latest year available)."

Table 1. Number of deaths attributed to drug poisoning¹ where a drug classified to class A, B or C was mentioned on the death certificate,² England and Wales,³ 20074
Persons
Class Deaths
A 1,374
B 70
C 225
¹ Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (corresponding ICD-10 codes are shown in Box 1) and where a drug classified as A, B or C was mentioned on the death certificate.
² Some deaths may be counted in more than one category, for example if heroin and cannabis are recorded on the death certificate the death will be counted once under class A and once under class B.
³ Figures include deaths of non residents.
4 Figures are for deaths registered in 2007.
Box 1. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes used to define drug-related poisoning deaths by underlying cause
Description ICD-10
Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) F11-F16, F18-F19
Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X40-X44
Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64
Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85
Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent Y10-Y14

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
490 c957-8W;490 c953-4W; 267865
Session
2008-09
Subjects
Death Drugs
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk