Notes:

Absolute numbers from different countries are not directly comparable since differences remain in case definition and recording methods

The national definitions used to report to the EMCDDA and the methods used are described in Drug related deaths – methods and definitions.

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 also include a limited number of cases of deaths indirectly related to drug use (e.g. AIDS, accidents with positive toxicology). See Drug related deaths – methods and definitions. Note in addition that in some countries, statistics published at national level may differ from those presented here as a result of differences in case definition used at national level.

(1) Data refers to the five major cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza and Bilbao.

(2) United Kingdom (ONS): Definition used by Office for National Statistics (ONS). Only this figures from the United Kingdom (and not the DSD figures) are included in the 'Totals' for the EU

(3) United Kingdom (DSD): Figures from the 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 []. The DSD definition is relatively similar to the EMCDDA definition for General Mortality Registries ('Selection B'); in 2001 for UK the DSD computes 1983 cases and EMCDDA Selection B 1827 cases; for 2002 DSD computes 1972 cases and the Selection B 1815; for 2003 DSD computes 1718 and the EMCDDA Selection B 1416.

(4) Data refers only to Bucharest.

See also 'General notes for interpreting data' on the Explanatory notes and help page.

Sources:

Reitox national reports 2005, taken from national mortality registries or special registries (forensic or police). Based on ‘National definitions’ as presented in Drug related deaths – methods and definitions.