Mortality due to drug-related deaths (DRD/million population) in Norway and the EU-27, total population, population aged 15-64 and population aged 15-39 years (total and males), 2005 or last year available (source: EMCDDA, 2007)

- : no data available

¹ Due to the low number of drug-related deaths in a year, two-year (Cyprus) and three-year ((Luxembourg, Malta and Romania) averages were used.

² For the Czech Republic, EMCDDA Selection D was used instead of the national definition. The national definition includes also poisoning by psychoactive medicines, which accounts for most cases (156 cases out of 218).

³ In Greece, all cases are included as the age breakdowns do not follow the standards. In previous years where the detailed age distribution was available, there were no cases below 15 and above 64.

⁴ For Portugal, the age groups 15 to 39 and 15 to 64 should be interpreted as 20 to 39 and 20 to 45+.

⁵ Data refer to Bucharest only.

⁶ In Spain, the population included is that corresponding to the coverage of information on drug-related deaths (five cities).

Remarks

In the EMCDDA Annual Report and standard protocol on drug deaths, drug-related deaths refer to those caused directly by the consumption of one of more drugs, happening shortly after the drug use. These deaths are also known as 'acute drug deaths', 'overdoses' or 'poisonings'. For a detailed definition and the applicable ICD codes to be selected see: Methods and definitions drug related death (EMCDDA Statistical bulletin 2007).

Mortality is expressed in drug related deaths per million population. Rates are not age-standardised. The calculations of population mortality rates are based on 2004 population sizes as reported by Eurostat.

It is important to underline that comparisons of population rates should be made with extreme caution since there are still some differences in case definitions and quality of reporting may be different. See also: Methodological features of drug-related deaths reported by National Reitox Focal Points (EMCDDA Statistical bulletin 2007).

The UK drug strategy definition (DSD) cases are a subset of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) definition. Main differences are that under the Strategy, the ICD 10's non "F-codes" are used in combination with controlled drugs (excluding co-proxamol etc.).

Source EMCDDA: Reitox national reports 2006, taken from national mortality registries or special registries (forensic or police). Based on ‘National definitions’ as presented in: Methods and definitions drug related death (EMCDDA Statistical bulletin 2007).

See also: Methodological features of drug-related deaths reported by National Reitox Focal Points (EMCDDA Statistical bulletin 2007).

For original EMCDDA data see: Mortality due to drug-related deaths in European countries (EMCDDA Statistical bulletin 2007)