The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths by overdose from drugs in class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available. (267865)
The table attached provides the number of deaths where any drug in class (a) A, (b) B and (c) C was mentioned on the death certificate, in England and Wales, for 2007 (the latest year available).
Persons Class Deaths A 1,374 B 70 C 225 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (corresponding ICD-10 codes are shown in Box 1) and where a drug classified as A, B or C was mentioned on the death certificate. 2 Some deaths may be counted in more than one category, for example if heroin and cannabis are recorded on the death certificate the death will be counted once under class A and once under class B. 3 Figures include deaths of non residents. 4 Figures are for deaths registered in 2007.
Description ICD-10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) F11-F16, F18-F19 Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X40-X44 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X60-X64 Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances X85 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent Y10-Y14