Ireland Has One of the Highest Drug Mortality Rates in Europe Says UN Report

[C. Flower]

Ireland has one of the worst levels of drug-related deaths in Europe.

Why ?



A United Nations report on the global drug market shows that Ukraine, Iceland and Ireland have the highest mortality rates in Europe, with more than 100 drug-related deaths per million inhabitants aged between 15 and 64.

Heroin is predominantly ranked as the primary cause of death followed by cocaine, at much lower levels.

There are an estimated 20,000 heroin addicts in Ireland, with almost two thirds in the greater Dublin area.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/ireland-suffers-one-of-highest-drug-mortality-rates-in-europe-says-un-report-510187.html#ixzz1Q99AixGW

[Griska]

Probably because of the criminalisation of use.

Drug addiction is a societal problem, not a criminal one.

[Sam Lord]

I would be very much surprised if heroin is the primary cause of death in Ireland. My money would be on Methadone/Benzodiazepine cocktails.

Both are prescribed drugs i.e. not illegal.

[Griska]

I would be very much surprised if heroin is the primary cause of death in Ireland. My money would be on Methodone/Benzodiazepine cocktails.

Both are prescribed drugs i.e. not illegal.

Yes, but the life that heroin addicts are forced to live would add to the numbers of deaths. If heroin is taken in a controlled environment, the number of deaths would reduce considerably.

[Sam Lord]

Yes, but the life that heroin addicts are forced to live would add to the numbers of deaths. If heroin is taken in a controlled environment, the number of deaths would reduce considerably.

Point taken. But then that gets you into a whole other debate.

[Sam Lord]

Ireland has one of the worst levels of drug-related deaths in Europe.

Why ?



They are comparing deaths per head of the general population as opposed to per head of addict population. So it is possible that the issue is that Ireland has a higher number of addicts than other places not that a greater percentage of adddicts die. In that case (and I don't know that it is) the question really would be - why does Ireland have more addicts?

[Griska]

Point taken. But then that gets you into a whole other debate.

I don't think so.
Ireland treats addicts as criminals.

If the state was less punitive, heroin addicts would not be forced to live on the periphery of society.
Addiction itself isn't likely to kill a huge amount of people. Uncontrolled use and the environment which the addict finds him/herself play a huge role.

[Skrimshander]

Probably because of the criminalisation of use.

Drug addiction is a societal problem, not a criminal one.

it could also be simply a quality problem

[Griska]

it could also be simply a quality problem

Absolutely.
If drugs were taken out of the illegal market and controlled, quality would not be an issue.

[Sam Lord]

I don't think so.


The debate is, of course, enabling v. addressing addiction.

[C. Flower]

They are comparing deaths per head of the general population as opposed to per head of addict population. So it is possible that the issue is that Ireland has a higher number of addicts than other places not that a greater percentage of adddicts die. In that case (and I don't know that it is) the question really would be - why does Ireland have more addicts?

It could be both.

I'll see if I can find the UN study later as it might shed light.

[C. Flower]

Absolutely.
If drugs were taken out of the illegal market and controlled, quality would not be an issue.

That is a debate. But I'd be interested to pin down the reasons why Ireland apparently has a lot of drug related deaths, if possible.

[C. Flower]

Benzodiazepine (Valium) taken along with another drug is the most frequent cause of death according to
Dr Suzy Lyons, Senior Reseacher at the Health Research Board (RTE Morning Ireland).

She said that Ireland monitors and records drug related deaths better than other countries, which is why the stats look so bad. Could well be the case.

[bolshevik]

Of course it also shouldn't be forgotten that the drug responsible for most deaths in Ireland is alcohol and indeed is probably a major contributory factor in some/many of these deaths being attributed to these illegal drugs.

[Sam Lord]

Benzodiazepine (Valium) taken along with another drug is the most frequent cause of death according to
Dr Suzy Lyons, Senior Reseacher at the Health Research Board (RTE Morning Ireland).



The other drug is most often Methadone.

[Sam Lord]

Of course it also shouldn't be forgotten that the drug responsible for most deaths in Ireland is alcohol and indeed is probably a major contributory factor in some/many of these deaths being attributed to these illegal drugs.

Your first point is very true. Your second point is not.

[bolshevik]

Not an Irish source but I would imagine that given the cultural similarities with Britain the incidence of mixing alcohol and illegal drugs was similar.

"In 2005 34 per cent of deaths mentioned more than one drug and 27 per cent of deaths contained a mention of alcohol in addition to a drug."
http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_FactResearchGuide_DrugRelatedDeaths.htm