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01/03/2022
218 Drug-Related Deaths In NI In 2020
A total of 218 drug-related deaths were registered in NI in 2020, the highest number of record and a continuation of an upwards trend.
The figure was revealed in the latest report on Drug-related and drug-misuse deaths in Northern Ireland, 2010-2020, published by Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).
This report presents statistics on Northern Ireland (NI) drug-related mortality in 2020. Figures are based on deaths registered in NI that are known to be drug-related or a direct consequence of drug misuse.
The report also shows an increase in drug-misuse deaths, increasing from 165 in 2019 to 182 in 2020.
Over half (55.5%) of drug related deaths were of men aged 25-44. Drug-related death rates were highest among the 25-34 age group (27.2 deaths per 100,000 people).
Opioids were the most commonly mentioned type of drugs on death certificates. However, the number of drug-related deaths involving psychoactive substances increased notably from 11 in 2019 to 51 in 2020.
The proportion of Drug-related deaths where alcohol was mentioned continued to fall in 2020.
Two-thirds (66.1%) of drug-related deaths in 2020 involved two or more drugs. In contrast in 2010, 55.4% of drug-related deaths involved two or more drugs
Belfast HSCT and LGD had the highest age-standardised rate of drug-related deaths per 100,000 population – 19.8 and 21.2 respectively. Drug-related and drug-misuse deaths were higher in areas of highest deprivation.
The figure was revealed in the latest report on Drug-related and drug-misuse deaths in Northern Ireland, 2010-2020, published by Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).
This report presents statistics on Northern Ireland (NI) drug-related mortality in 2020. Figures are based on deaths registered in NI that are known to be drug-related or a direct consequence of drug misuse.
The report also shows an increase in drug-misuse deaths, increasing from 165 in 2019 to 182 in 2020.
Over half (55.5%) of drug related deaths were of men aged 25-44. Drug-related death rates were highest among the 25-34 age group (27.2 deaths per 100,000 people).
Opioids were the most commonly mentioned type of drugs on death certificates. However, the number of drug-related deaths involving psychoactive substances increased notably from 11 in 2019 to 51 in 2020.
The proportion of Drug-related deaths where alcohol was mentioned continued to fall in 2020.
Two-thirds (66.1%) of drug-related deaths in 2020 involved two or more drugs. In contrast in 2010, 55.4% of drug-related deaths involved two or more drugs
Belfast HSCT and LGD had the highest age-standardised rate of drug-related deaths per 100,000 population – 19.8 and 21.2 respectively. Drug-related and drug-misuse deaths were higher in areas of highest deprivation.
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