Table Y: Drug-related deaths, on the basis of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 'wide' definition, by selected drugs reported, 2005 to 2015
Drugs1,220052006200720082009201020112012201320142015
Footnotes:
  1. More than one drug may be reported per death. These are mentions of each drug, so do not add up to the overall total. Up to 2007, some pathologists reported only those drugs which they thought caused, or contributed to, the death. With effect from 2008, pathologists report separately:
    (a) drugs which were implicated in, or which potentially contributed to, the cause of death; and
    (b) other drugs which were present but which were not considered to have had any direct contribution to the death.
    The figures for 2008 onwards are on the first basis - i.e. basis (a) - which has been the standard basis for figures for individual drugs with effect from 'Drug-related Deaths in Scotland in 2009'.
    There may be other differences between years and/or areas in the way in which the information was produced - more information can be found in Section 2 of the commentary.
  2. The figures for some of the 'controlled' drugs may differ slightly from those given in earlier tables for two reasons. First, they were produced from what was the then General Register Office for Scotland's new database, rather than the old database (more information can be found in paragraph A4). Second, a small proportion of the deaths which involved controlled drugs were excluded from the figures which appear in the earlier tables, for reasons such as those given in paragraph A3.
  3. For example: amitriptyline, citalopram, dothiepin, fluoexetine, prothaiaden.
  4. For example: chlorpromazine, clozapine, olanzapine.
  5. Including diazepam and temazepam (which appear separately below).
  6. For example: co-codamol.
  7. For example: co-dydramol.
  8. More information can be found in paragraph 3.3.1 of the commentary.
  9. That is, one or more of heroin/diamorphine, morphine, methadone and buprenorphine.
  10. Any opiate or opioid, including (e.g.) co-codamol, codeine, dihydrocodeine, heroin, methadone, morphine, oxycodone and tramadol.
  11. For example: co-codamol or co-proxamol, or mention of dextropropoxyphene or propoxyphene (even if there is no mention of paracetamol or a compound analgesic).
All drug-related deaths (on the 'wide' definition)480577630737716692749734685743813
Amitriptyline3029244132413744604147
Amphetamines11111212732418272217
Anti-depressants367938410197123116121120103132
Anti-psychotics4521262519213235292330
Benzodiazepines511094109150158124187198149125192
Cannabis63810000027
Cocaine4433474133343631454594
Codeine or a compound thereof61838304046204841464540
Dihydrocodeine or a compound thereof75045557465658786817295
Diazepam9078791161209412416110787129
Ecstasy-type10121252099171415
Gabapentin00032410245167102
Heroin/diamorphine or Morphine8194260291327326256207222221312349
Heroin / morphine Methadone or Buprenorphine9246328372449440400431403383454497
Methadone7196115171177177275241216216252
Mirtazepine358121491824262039
Opiate or opioid10337403451550540480558531499553619
Paracetamol or a compound116253565543484537384336
Phenazepam00000014203468
Pregablin00000115122642
Temazepam79479386448
Tramadol1617263240403448643853
Alcohol134151181196187151148136129116123