Alcohol-related deaths on the rise

Alcohol-related deaths, from poisoning and disease, are on the rise according to the latest figures from the Health Research Board, with younger men most likely to be affected.

Some 672 deaths from alcohol-related poisoning or overdose were recorded from 2004-2008, with the numbers increasing from 125 in 2004 to 150 in 2008.

During the same period there were 3,336 deaths among alcohol-dependent people which were not related to poisoning, with figures increasing from 508 in 2004 to 799 in 2008.

Alcohol was the drug most frequently implicated in all poisoning deaths. However, half of alcohol-related poisonings also involved other drugs, almost all of which were prescription sedatives or anti-depressants.

Benzodiazepines, such as valium and diazepam, were found in almost two-thirds of overdose deaths where alcohol was mixed with other drugs.

While it could not be determined whether this prescription medication was obtained legally or illegally, any strategy to reduce alcohol-related deaths must consider the role played by benzodiazepines, the report said.

Two-thirds of deaths from alcohol poisoning, and overdose involving alcohol and other drugs were male. More than half of those who died from alcohol poisoning only where under the age of 50, while three quarters of those who died from an overdose alcohol and other drugs were under 50.

While the statistics on deaths from poisoning/overdose related to the population as a whole, the board's study also focused on "non-poisoning" related deaths of people who were alcohol dependent.

Of these nine out of 10 were due to medical causes, ie diseases related to alcoholism, while the remainder were due to "trauma" such as falls, hanging or choking.