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Table DRD-2. Number of acute drug-related deaths recorded in EU Member States (25 members and candidates) according to national definitions [see all tables in this series...]

Part (i) Total drug-related deaths, 1990 to 2005

Country1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005
Belgium506364123122132137123
Bulgaria24108981911162128412413152640
Czech Republic117135145167115222241218
Denmark115188208210271274268278251239247258252245275275
Germany1491212520991738162415651712150116741812203018351513147713851329
Estonia4722314586369857
Ireland7915201936447882122113939096
Greece66797978146176222232245265304321259217250284
Spain(1)444553536421367373381321271258254240204274212
France35041149945456446539322814311811910797896957
Italy116113831217888867119515661160108010021016825520517600603
Cyprus149
Latvia15332423635121414
Lithuania923343237453533403831
Luxembourg111717152922179161726181114138
Hungary524731423840323428
Malta361912555678568
Netherlands708075758770108108110115131144103104127122
Austria4371129156173170191136109128167139139163185191
Poland155213199211185175179253235292310294324277231
Portugal82121156115143198232235337369318280156152156219
Romania(2)123746
Slovenia156537131521242122383240
Slovakia2317
Finland413427263551107988411913411097101135126
Sweden626266838670122133138153191162160152
United Kingdom (ONS)(3)235623742628265428613035322133443411348535173484328329693161
United Kingdom (DSD)(4)12531353153115661748191220111975196515921786
Norway708810493124143195185274237360368291204220
Totals659978898138737577238186919785488697905696069066783074527557-

Notes:

 A longer time series, dating back to 1985 for reporting countries, is available in the Supplementary tables section of this statistical bulletin.       

 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 include also 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 owing to differences of case definition used at national level.       

 (1) Data refer to the six major cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Sevilla and Bilbao. Between 1997 and 2000 data for Sevilla are not included. In 2003 and 2004 data for Zaragoza are not included.       

 (2) Data refer only to Bucharest.       

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

 (4) 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 Methods and Definitions Summary document in this Statitical bulletin. The DSD definition is relatively similar to the EMCDDA definition for General Mortality Registries ("Selection B"); in 2001 for UK the DSD computes 1975 cases and EMCDDA Selection B 1831 cases; for 2002 DSD computes 1965 cases and the Selection B 1807; for 2003 DSD computes 1592 and the EMCDDA Selection B 1419; for 2004 DSD computes 1786 cases and the EMCDDA Selection B 1646 cases.       

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

Sources:

 Reitox national reports 2006, taken from national mortality registries or special registries (forensic or police). Based on 'National definitions' as presented in Drug-related deaths – methods and definitions .       

Page last updated: Thursday, 08 November 2007