Research report: The number of deaths linked to the use of drugs such as heroin has risen significantly outside the Dublin area, new research shows.
While drug-related deaths in the capital have begun to fall in recent times, fatalities in the rest of the State have increased from just four in 1994 to 35 in 2002.
The figures are compiled in a study by the Health Research Board (HRB) published today which draws on information from coroners' courts and other sources.
The findings are likely to add to calls among campaigners and politicians for greater funding of regional drug task forces.
The number of direct drug-related deaths increased substantially in Dublin and the rest of the country between 1994 and 2000. There was a sharp decrease in deaths in Dublin from 90 to 55 in 2001.
However, the trend was reversed outside the capital where deaths continued to rise from 29 (2000) to 33 (2001) and 35 (2002).
The study suggests the drop in Dublin deaths was due to more established treatment services and the provision of methadone maintenance to drug users in prison.
While drug treatment services have improved dramatically outside Dublin, they are less established than those in the capital, according to the report's authors.
The report says the number of drug-related deaths linked to opiate use nationally are likely to be underestimated and recommends that a system be established to document drug-related deaths and deaths among drug users.
The HRB report, Drug-related Death in Ireland 1990 to 2002, cites research conducted in 2001 which reported that 13 per cent of drug-related deaths occurred in prison or within a short time after release from prison.
Among the report's conclusions are that overdose prevention interventions using international and national experience and evidence are required.
Other findings in the HRB report are that those who died as a result of drug use were older than their counterparts in treatment.
As expected, more men than women died.
Research shows that benzodiazepines, opiates (heroin and methadone) and alcohol are by far the most common substances implicated in drug-related deaths.
Drugs such as cannabis, antidepressants and stimulants (ecstasy and cocaine) are less commonly implicated.
Multi-drug use, or polysubstance use, was also associated with deaths among drug users, while injecting drug use was associated with infection and subsequent death.
Studies between 1998 and 2001, drawn upon in the HRB report, show that drug task force areas such as Ballymun, Ballyfermot, and Canal communities had the higher rates of opiate-related deaths for the reporting period, approximately 16 times the rate experienced in areas of Dublin not designated as task force areas.
The analysis presented in the report is based on data reported to the General Mortality Register (GMR) and on studies that extracted data from the coroners' records, the Central Treatment List, the Aids surveillance system, and on an epidemic investigation.
However, the report says it is still difficult to determine the exact number of deaths among drug users in Ireland.
The best estimate for Dublin ranges between 60 and 90 deaths per annum.
However, the Family Support Network at Citywide has indicated to the National Drugs Strategy Team that these figures underestimate the extent of the problem.