There has been a considerable increase in the number of deaths involving cocktails of anti-anxiety drugs and alcohol, according to figures released today.The figures relate to 2011 and are from the Health Research Board’s (HRB) National Drug-Related Deaths Index, which provides the latest data about the nature and extent of premature death due to problem drug and alcohol use in Ireland.
More than half of overdose deaths were from polydrug use, which refers to the taking of two or more drugs at the same time. There was a 28 per cent increase in the number of overdose deaths as a result of polydrug use, from 168 in 2010 to 215 in 2011.
The drugs most implicated in polydrug use were alcohol, methadone, antidepressants and benzodiazepines, which are sedatives used in the treatment of anxiety. Benzodiazepines were implicated in 166 deaths – an increase of 61 per cent on the 2010 figure of 103 deaths.
‘Standout’ issue
HRB senior researcher Suzi Lyons said the increase in polydrug use deaths was the “standout” issue.
“What is concerning is the big increase in polydrug overdose deaths, which correlate with the increase in deaths from prescription medication such as benzodiazepines, methadone and antidepressants – all of which are the major drugs implicated in the polydrug overdoses,” she said.
“Especially when you talk about the benzodiazepines, which are sedative drugs, they affect your respiratory system. Our data shows it’s the combination together that can be fatal. Alone, the drug might not have been fatal, especially when you are talking about prescription medications.”
The number of drug-related deaths in Ireland increased from 597 in 2010 to 607 in 2011. Almost two-thirds of these deaths were men and the median age for those who died was 39. Of these deaths, 365 were due to overdose, up from 338 in 2010. The remaining 242 were deaths that may be indirectly attributed to drug use. There were 17 fewer of these deaths in 2011 than in 2010.
Source: Colin Gleeson, Irish Times, 22/01/14
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