Drug-related deaths - statistics

Registration of drug-related deaths and interpretation of data

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Interpretation of data

The number of drug-related deaths in Iceland is low compared to the largest categories of causes of death. In addition, the population is small, so small changes in the number of drug-related deaths can inevitably cause fluctuations in mortality. Because of this, it is essential to interpret the figures of individual years with caution, as there may be random fluctuations. To highlight the long-term trend of drug-related deaths, it may be more appropriate to use averages rather than annual rates.

Statistics on causes of death are based on death certificates for individuals who had permanent residence in Iceland at the time of death. Mortality is recorded by death certificates in the Causes of death register and coded according to the latest version and updates of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Since 1996, the causes of death have been coded according to the 10th edition of the classification system, ICD-10. The statistics on causes of death are published annually after the registration and coding of the previous year and after quality tests have been completed.

Drug-related deaths refer to death due to intoxication by narcotic and addictive drugs and by pharmaceuticals. The world nations have not agreed on a single international statistical definition of drug-related deaths. The Directorate of Health uses a definition suggested by NOMESKO. According to this definition, death is drug-related if the underlying cause, irrespective of intent, is an intoxication from narcotic and addictive drugs and pharmaceuticals. This definition includes accidental poisoning (ICD-10: X40-X44), intentional self-poisoning (ICD-10: X60-X64) and intoxication where the intention is uncertain (ICD-10: Y10-Y14). Drug poisoning in homicides (ICD-10: X85) and poisoning, a side effect of medical treatment (ICD-10: Y40-Y59), are not included in drug-related deaths.

According to the Causes of death register, a quarter of drug-related deaths in the last ten years are suicides (intentional self-poisoning). Most drug-related deaths are the subject of accidental poisoning, about 66% in the past decade.

Foreign comparison

Various international organizations undertake the collection and presentation of figures on the causes of death. Iceland is a member of such a partnership and sends, among other things, annual data to the WHO Global Mortality Database. The statistics from this database are accessible in the European Mortality Database, which publishes the mortality rates of various pre-defined categories of cause of death each year. The WHO also publishes information on the causes of death within individual countries in an accessible interactive platform.