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Table DRDeath-2. Number of acute drug-related deaths recorded in EU Member States (15 members up to 2004) according to national definitions, 1985-2002. Part (i) Total drug-related deaths, 1985 onwards

Country 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
                                       
Belgium hna hna 17 33 26 50 63 64 123 122 132 137 123 na na na na na  
Denmark 150 109 140 135 123 115 188 208 210 271 274 268 278 251 239 247 258 252  
Germany 324 348 442 670 991 1491 2125 2099 1738 1624 1565 1712 1501 1674 1812 2030 1835 1513  
Greece 10 28 56 62 72 66 79 79 78 146 176 222 232 245 265 304 321 259  
Spain 140 151 226 327 426 451 577 554 439 383 392 418 319 270 258 251 266 231  
France 172 185 228 236 318 350 411 499 454 564 465 393 228 143 118 119 107 97  
Ireland 19 6 4 8 8 7 8 14 18 19 43 53 81 97 114 119 88 na  
Italy 242 292 543 809 974 1161 1383 1217 888 867 1195 1566 1160 1080 1002 1016 825 516  
Luxembourg 1 3 5 4 8 11 17 17 15 29 22 17 9 16 17 26 18 11  
Netherlands (1) 40 42 23 33 30 43 49 43 38 50 33 63 70 61 76 98 103 na  
Austria hna hna hna hna 40 43 71 129 156 173 170 191 136 109 128 167 139 139  
Portugal hna 18 22 33 52 82 121 156 115 143 198 232 235 337 369 318 280 156  
Finland hna hna 16 11 23 41 34 27 26 35 51 43 43 52 65 75 63 na  
Sweden hna hna 70 55 56 62 62 66 83 86 70 122 133 138 153 191 162 na  
United Kingdom (ONS) (2) 2260 2341 2316 2343 2238 2356 2374 2628 2654 2861 3035 3221 3344 3411 3485 3517 3473 na  
U.K. (England & Wales) (ONS) 1971 2077 2034 2061 1942 2041 2053 2287 2252 2404 2563 2721 2858 2922 2943 2968 2898 na  
U.K (N. Ireland) (ONS) 47 40 32 44 32 39 46 28 28 35 46 40 39 40 50 54 24 na  
U.K. (Scotland) (ONS) 242 224 250 238 264 276 275 313 374 422 426 460 447 449 492 495 551 na  
Norway 45 44 43 48 45 70 88 104 93 124 143 195 185 274 237 360 368 na  
                                       
Overall trend 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002  
Corrected Index (4) 100 104.3 118.4 137.3 153.9 181.4 216.9 224.1 202.1 212.5 225.8 251 229 234.8 239.7 254.4 241.2 ---  
                                       
U.K. DSD Definition (3) 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002  
U.K. (DSD)                   1253 1352 1531 1565 1748 1909 2008 1978 na  
U.K. (England & Wales) (DSD)                 864 1002 1100 1247 1302 1459 1568 1663 1623 na  
U.K. (N. Ireland) (DSD) 22 14 18 14 5 39 46 28 28 35 46 40 39 40 50 53 23 na  
U.K. (Scotland) (DSD)                   216 206 244 224 249 291 292 332 na  
                                       
Notes:                                      
(hna): historical data not available; (na): data of recent years not yet available.            
Absolute numbers from different countries are not directly comparable because differences remain in case definition and recording methods.            
The national definitions used to report to the EMCDDA and the methods used are described in [Methods and definitions - Drug-related deaths].            
National definitions usually refer to acute deaths directly related to drug consumption ("overdoses", "poisonings" or "drug-induced"). Note that, in a few countries, the figures include also a limited number of cases of deaths indirectly related to drug use (e.g. AIDS, accidents with positive toxicology). See [Methodological notes with national definitions]. Note in addition that in some countries, statistics published at national level may differ from those presented here for differences of case definition used at national level.            
(1) The Netherlands adopted the EMCDDA definition for general mortality registries ("Selection B") in 2001, yielding 144 cases. In this table, the figure based on the previous definition was maintained until retrospective recomputation of figures is done consistently, based on data reported to EMCDDA.            
(2) United Kingdom (ONS): Definition used by Office for National Statistics (ONS).            
(3) United Kingdom (DSD): In addition are presented figures from the recently developed Drug Strategy Definition (DSD) of drug-related deaths: it is an extract from the ONS definition that includes cases with drugs controlled by the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971. For details refer to [Methods and definitions - Drug-related deaths]. The DSD definition is relatively similar to the EMCDDA definition for general mortality registries ("Selection B"); in 2000 for E&W the DSD computes 1663 cases and EMCDDA Selection B 1606 cases; for 2001 DSD computes 1623 cases and the Selection B 1443.            
(4) Corrected index: 1985=100. A few countries did not provide data for some years (see table). To correct this situation, the computation method used is defined in the report [European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2001). Co-ordination of the implementation of the EMCDDA standard guidelines on the drug-related deaths in the EU Member States, and the collection and analysis of information on drug-related deaths], Project CT.99.RTX.04, Co-ordinated by the Trimbos Institute. Lisbon: EMCDDA.
Associated graphics:
Long-term EU trend in acute deaths directly related to drug use (1985-2001) [Figure11OL].
Trends in acute drug-related deaths in the different EU countries (1985-2002) [Figure12OL].            
                                       
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