Tramadol still killing more people than heroin in NI
Coroner issues stark warning after alarming drugs-death figures
Last updated 5th Mar 2019
One of Northern Ireland's full time coroners has issued a crucial message to the public about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs.
On Monday it was revealed drug-related-deaths in men here have almost doubled in the last decade.
101 men died from drugs in 2017 compared to 51, 10 years earlier.
By contrast, the rates of drugs deaths among women remained the same as a decade ago.
The government figures also showed almost half of deaths related to drugs in 2017, were down to mixing prescription drugs and alcohol known as 'poly drug' use.
Joe Brogan, head of pharmacy and medicines management at the Health and Social Care Board, said unprescribed drugs are becoming more widely available which is contributing to the problem.
He told Downtown Cool FM people get prescription drugs from family, drug dealers and the internet without a prescription which can be fatal when mixed with other substances.
Coroner Joe McCrisken said it is a worrying trend across the province:
"Almost 50% of all drug deaths involve three or more drugs and those are more likely to be prescription drugs.
"That's been on the increase for the last number of years so having almost half the people who died from taking drugs, having taken three or more drugs is hugely concerning."
Young people were also the hardest hit with high numbers of diazepam misuse, a powerful prescription sedative.
The highest number of deaths involving drugs-37%, were aged between 25 and 34.
That's compared to just 4% who were 65 and over.
The coroner was keen to stress to the public, the fatal dangers of mixing drink and drugs, including medicines:
"I've spoken over the last year to over 50 families, it is catastrophic for some families.
"I spoke to parents not so long ago who just couldn't understand how their young son who was taking his A-levels had died from taking a cocktail of prescription drugs.
"They'll probably never understand it, neither did I really."
He added: "He wasn't the first young person to die like that and he won't be the last."
Another prescription drug which featured commonly in drug-related deaths was Tramadaol.
The painkiller killed more people in Northern Ireland than heroin in 2017.
This has been a common trend in previous years and there have been calls for it to be made a Classified, Class A drug alongside heroin and cocaine.
In 2017, former state pathologist in Northern Ireland Professor Jack Crane said it needs to be classed with heroin and cocaine, after a young mother died from addiction to the prescribed opiate painkiller.
Mr McCrisken said the drug can be fatal:
"Yet again, Tramadol has killed more people in Northern Ireland than heroin in 2017.
"That is a trend that has continued year-on-year for about the last five or six years and that's quite a shocking figure but it's a figure that we've seen before."
And he issued a stark warning for patients on the medication who often think it is safe because it is prescribed:
"31 people died from using Tramadol but more often than not that's with something else.
"So that's Tramadol which is a very strong, potent, opioid used for chronic pain relief, you take Tramadol with something else like diazepam, ectasy or cocaine or alcohol then the risk increases.
"But you're still taking a drug that's stronger than heroin."
Meanwhile, Class A drugs like heroin and cocaine still continue to have a high incidence in Northern Ireland.
Joe told us they are still causing an alarming amount of drugs deaths here:
"Heroin continues to kill people at a high rate and that's been broadly similar over the years.
"But I don't think that paints a picture of heroin misuse.
"I'm hearing from medics and from families that heroin misuse...is on the increase.
"We know that heroin misuse is on the increase in Belfast city centre, police would tell you that, particularly in public places, I've held inquests into deaths in public places in Belfast...resulting from heroin."
And cocaine is still a problem.
Joe said: "In 2017 we had 13 deaths involving cocaine and the previous year we had three.
"So work that out, that's four times more cocaine deaths.
"We think that the deaths from cocaine are occurring where cocaine is mixed with alcohol that forms a much more dangerous compound called co-catheline and it's that combination.
"As well as the fact that cocaine is a dangerous illicit drug and carries it's own risks."
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