Table HB2: Drug-related deaths by underlying cause of death1 and NHS Board area, 2015
NHS Board areaAll causes of deathUnderlying cause of death (ICD10 codes)
Drug abuse
(F11-F16, F19)
Accidental poisoning
(X40-X44)
Intentional self-poisoning
(X60-X64)
Assault by drugs, etc.
(X85)
Undetermined intent
(Y10-Y14)
Footnote:
  1. The coding rules were changed with effect from the start of 2011, as explained in paragraph 2.6 of the commentary.
    Briefly, 'drug abuse' deaths from 'acute intoxication' were previously counted under 'mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use' (unless they were known to be due to intentional self-harm or assault). They are now counted under the appropriate 'poisoning' category.
    For example, if the cause of death of a known drug abuser was given as 'adverse effects of heroin' (and it was not intentional self-harm or assault), the underlying cause of death would be coded as follows:
    (a) up to 2010 - as 'F11 - mental and behavioural disorders due to use of opioids'
    (b) from 2011 - the appropriate 'poisoning' category, such as 'X42 - accidental poisoning by and exposure to narcotics and psychodysleptics (hallucinogens) not elsewhere classified'.
    National Records of Scotland has estimated w hat the figures for 2015 w ould have been, had the data been coded using the old rules.
(i) New coding rules
Scotland7064955354050
Ayrshire & Arran43040201
Borders1315403
Dumfries & Galloway1128001
Fife44231506
Forth Valley31320305
Grampian691517010
Greater Glasgow & Clyde22125180907
Highland35023507
Lanarkshire73461602
Lothian100779707
Orkney101000
Shetland101000
Tayside63453501
Western Isles100100
(ii) Old coding rules
Scotland70649512354034
Ayrshire & Arran43383200
Borders1351403
Dumfries & Galloway1191001
Fife44334502
Forth Valley31251302
Grampian69543705
Greater Glasgow & Clyde22115947906
Highland35185507
Lanarkshire733926602
Lothian1006919705
Orkney110000
Shetland110000
Tayside634413501
Western Isles100100