Journal of Public Health Medicine 23:242-246 (2001)
© 2001 Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom
Short report |
Trends in deaths from drug overdose and poisoning in England and Wales 1993–1998
Rajen Shah1
Zoë Uren2
Allan Baker2
Azeem Majeed3
1 Mental Health Services for Older People, Cheviot House, Sutton Hospital, Sutton SM2 5NF
2 Office for National Statistics, London SW1V 2QQ
3 School of public Policy, university College London, London WC1H 9EZ
Background The study examines time trends and socio-demographic aspects of drug poisoning deaths in England and Wales.
Methods Socio-demographic data from the four drug groups most commonly used in poisoning were extracted, and annual age- and sex-specific mortality rates calculated. Enumeration districts were ranked into five groups on the basis of their Carstairs scores, and the number of deaths in each of the five groups was calculated.
Results There were 15 720 deaths from drug poisoning between 1993 and 1998. More deaths occurred in men than in women (10 223 versus 5497). Opiates were the most commonly used drugs in deaths from drug poisoning (32 per cent of deaths); mortality rates increased twofold for these drugs. Males had higher number of deaths from opiate poisoning than females (4523 versus 1221). Highest mortality rates from opiate poisoning (77.4 per million) occurred in men aged 24–35 years. Deaths from drug poisoning were strongly associated with deprivation.
Conclusion There are substantial socio-demographic differences in mortality rates from drug poisoning.
Keywords: drug poisoning, overdose, epidemiology