One person died of cocaine overdose every week in 2017, according to latest figures which highlight a rise in deaths related to the drug’s use. Data released by the Health Research Board (HRB) show 376 people died of drug “poisoning”, or overdose, during the year - 125, or one third, of which involved alcohol. “A cocktail of drugs was present in three in five poisoning deaths,” said research officer Ena Lynn. “Mixing drugs is known to cause more complications and increases the risk of overdose.” Drug “cocktails” were present in three of five fatal cases. “There were 53 cocaine poisoning deaths in 2017, which equates to one death per week,” said Ms Lynn.

Source: The Irish Times December 12, 2019 00:00 UTC