Dr Constable asks about illicit drug overdose deaths in WA over the past 10 years. The Minister provides data on all drug-related deaths and accidental heroin-related deaths (HRDs) where available, noting limitations in data collection prior to 1995.

AnsweredQoN 704Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 September 2000
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

How many people have died from illicit drug overdoses in Western Australia in each of the last 10 years? Answered on 20 September 2000 The Minister

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
20 September 2000
Response time
8 days
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has responsibility for coding all causes of death in Western Australia. The ICD 9 codes that were used for the period 1989 to 1998 do not discriminate between whether the drug or drugs that were responsible for a death were obtained licitly or illicitly. The following table contains a list of all wholly attributable drug deaths. The major causes under the ICD 9 system are due to drug dependence, non dependent drug abuse, and those deaths which were accidentally, intentionally or were undetermined as to whether they were intentionally or unintentionally caused. Specific information about confirmed accidental heroin related deaths is only available for the period 1995 to 1998. This data is available following the establishment of the coronial database, operated by the WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office in conjunction with the Coroner's Court. All drug deaths Accidental HRDs 1998 109 75 1997 114 76 1996 106 45 1995 116 66 1994 101 na 1993 71 na 1992 61 na 1991 57 na 1990 58 na 1989 51 na
Answered on 20 September 2000 The Minister Replied: The Australian Bureau of Statistics has responsibility for coding all causes of death in Western Australia. The ICD 9 codes that were used for the period 1989 to 1998 do not discriminate between whether the drug or drugs that were responsible for a death were obtained licitly or illicitly. The following table contains a list of all wholly attributable drug deaths. The major causes under the ICD 9 system are due to drug dependence, non dependent drug abuse, and those deaths which were accidentally, intentionally or were undetermined as to whether they were intentionally or unintentionally caused. Specific information about confirmed accidental heroin related deaths is only available for the period 1995 to 1998. This data is available following the establishment of the coronial database, operated by the WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office in conjunction with the Coroner's Court. All drug deaths Accidental HRDs 1998 109 75 1997 114 76 1996 106 45 1995 116 66 1994 101 na 1993 71 na 1992 61 na 1991 57 na 1990 58 na 1989 51 na

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