Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023
628. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will provide data regarding the number of deaths recorded as a codeine-related overdose from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21614/23]
View answerCodeine is a mild to moderate opioid (narcotic) analgesic which, due to its potential for misuse, is a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs legislation.
The National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) is the national epidemiological database on drug and alcohol-related deaths and indirect deaths among people with a lifetime history of using drugs and/or were alcohol dependent, in Ireland. It was established so that the State can respond in a timely manner with accurate data on drug and alcohol-related mortality.
The latest NDRDI data available are for 2017 as data collection for 2018-2019 was delayed due to Covid-19. These data indicate that opioids were implicated in 198 individual deaths. Codeine is included with heroin, methadone, morphine, unspecified opioid-type drug and other opioid analgesics as opioid-related deaths.
