Drug-related deaths triple over five-year period

Thu, 25 May 2017

Health Minister Kate Beecroft MHK

Government figures show the number of drug-related deaths on the Island tripled between 2010 and 2015.

Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft revealed in this week's sitting of the House of Keys that nine people died as a result of drugs in 2015, compared with just three in 2010.

Mrs Beecroft also revealed the drug-related mortality rate on the Island of 8.5 deaths per 100,000 residents between 2013 and 2015 is significantly higher than in England, where there are 3.9 deaths per 100,000 people each year.

The age range of those dying as a result of drugs has also increased.

In 2010, those who died were aged 30 to 44, while in 2015 is ages were in the range of 20 to 54.

Of the 30 deaths over the 2010 to 2015 period, 13 people have died with heroin or methadone in their system, while presciption drugs have resulted in five deaths.