The number of people dying from drugs has dropped significantly. 

The Health Research Board has published figures showing a 19.4% decrease in the number of drug-induced deaths in 2021 in comparison to 2020.

In total, 354 people died from drugs in 2021 - 85 fewer than the 439 people who lost their lives in 2020.  

Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Colm Burke described it as a hugely welcome improvement. 

“These are the 2021 figures because we actually know it may take anything up to two years before a coroner’s inquest,” he said. 

“I think it’s important that I acknowledge the loss and grief felt by the families bereaved by the death of a loved one. 

“While each life lost is one too many, I think the good news is the fact that we are making progress in reducing the number of deaths and we’ve a lot more work to do.” 

Addiction services

In total, the Department of Health spends €163 million every year treating people with drug and alcohol addiction problems and Minister Burke said there has been an increase in people using their services. 

“The additional investment in services under the national drugs strategy has increased by 50% the number of cases entering drug treatment,” he said. 

“I have also supported the expansion in drug checking services under the HSE Safer Nightlife Programme. 

“The imminent opening of the supervised injecting facility in Dublin City Centre by the end of the year is another preventative measure.”

According to the European Drug Report 2024, Ireland was the EU member state with the highest number of drug deaths in 2020 - with 97 deaths per million people, nearly five times the EU average.

Main image: A heroin user. Picture by: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck.