Drug-related deaths in the UK: Annual Report 2011 [January-December 2010] : Drug-related deaths reported by Coroners in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man; Police forces in Scotland; & the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

Abstract

This twelfth annual report presents information on drug-related deaths that occurred during 2010 and for which Coronial inquests and similar formal investigations have been completed. The main purpose of the Annual Report from the national programme on Substance Abuse Deaths (np-SAD) is to inform the Government‟s monitoring of this important public health issue. The Programme‟s principal function is to provide high-quality and consistent surveillance, and to detect and identify emerging trends and issues in respect of this phenomenon. In this way, it contributes to the reduction and prevention of drug-related deaths in the UK due to the misuse of both licit and illicit drugs. As in previous years, the data and analysis in this report is intended also to inform authorities at the local, regional, and national country levels, as well as health professionals and the general public, about the serious consequences of drug abuse. The report provides also a number of indicators of drug abuse patterns, trends, and early warnings on emerging drug problems so that appropriate and timely action can be taken.