“This is an awful indictment of society that so many lives are being lost needlessly.”
Ireland continues to have one of the highest drug-related overdose mortality rates in Europe, according to figures found in a new EU drugs study.
Released on Thursday, the European Drugs Report 2018 ranks Ireland as the fourth-highest country in Europe when it comes to drug-induced overdose deaths, level with the United Kingdom and behind Norway, Sweden and Estonia.
The study presents a top-level overview of drug interaction and impact in Europe, covering drug supply, use and public health problems, as well as drug policy and responses.
According to the latest data available, rates of over 40 deaths per million population were reported in eight northern European countries, with the highest rates reported in Estonia (132 per million), Sweden (88 per million), Norway (81 per million), Ireland (70 per million) and the UK (70 per million).
The mortality rate due to overdoses in Europe in 2016 was estimated at 21.8 deaths per million population aged between 15 and 64.
The rate among males (34.7 cases per million) is almost four times higher than the rate among females (8.9 cases per million). Overdose mortality rates are highest at age 35 – 39 for males (54.7 deaths per million) and at age 40 – 44 for females (12.4 deaths per million).
Mean age of death, however, is 39-years-old for both men and women.
Responding to the report, CEO of charity Merchants Quay Ireland Tony Geoghegan said:
“This is an awful indictment of society that so many lives are being lost needlessly. We urgently need the government to increase investment in vital services targeted at high-risk drug users.
“Piloting a Medically Supervised Injecting Facility in Dublin is significant progress and will save lives that could otherwise be lost to overdose, but is only one part of the solution. We can and must do more.
“People who use drugs and their families need wider access to Naloxone, more community detox programmes, more medically supervised detox and rehabilitation programmes and supported accommodation for people coming out of rehab. We simply cannot expect to see a significant reduction in overdose deaths without this investment,” Geoghegan concluded.
You can read the report in full here.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
