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National Statistics: Drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2011

Table 2: Drug-related deaths by underlying cause of death1, Scotland, 1996 - 2011

Year Underlying cause of death (ICD10 codes)
All causes of death Drug abuse Accidental poisoning Intentional self-poisoning Assault by drugs, etc. Undetermined intent
(F11-F16, F19) (X40-X44) (X60-X64) (X85) (Y10-Y14)
1997-2001 average 278 199 14 32 0 32
1996 244 175 10 41 0 18
1997 224 142 14 42 0 26
1998 249 179 16 32 0 22
1999 291 227 12 19 1 32
2000 292 220 11 34 0 27
2001 332 227 19 34 0 52
2002 382 280 17 30 0 55
2003 317 216 15 40 0 46
2004 356 232 32 32 0 60
2005 336 204 31 43 0 58
2006 421 280 51 40 0 50
2007 455 299 39 27 0 90
2008 574 370 59 34 0 111
2009 545 380 60 34 0 71
2010 485 312 67 28 0 78
old rules - 2011 584 417 56 36 0 75
2007-2011 average (old coding rules) 529 356 56 32 0 85
new coding rules
2011 584 12 346 36 0 190

 

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 what the figures for 2011 would have been, had the data been coded using the old rules.

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