Notes:

(1) Number of deaths (all causes) refer to 2001, as last common year with information from all Member States in Eurostat. For Belgium data refer to 1997.

(2) The ‘Proportional Mortality’ was computed as the rate of ‘acute drug-related deaths’ (for last year available in each country, See Table DRD-5 part (i) over ‘Number of deaths for all causes’ (for 2001, last year available). It is assumed that the total number of deaths for all causes presents far smaller variations from year to year than DRD. The Proportional Mortality for drugs for 2000 or 2001 would be higher in most countries, due to the higher number of DRD recorded in those years.

It is important to underline that direct comparisons of national figures (population rates or proportional mortality) should be made with extreme caution since there are still some differences in case definitions and quality of reporting may be different.

See also 'General notes for interpreting data' on the Explanatory notes and help page.

Sources:

Reitox national reports 2005, taken from national mortality registries or special registries (forensic or police). Based on ‘National definitions’ as presented in Drug related deaths – methods and definitions.

Populations and total numbers death for the EU countries are extracted from Eurostat for the last year available.