Two-thirds of opiate-related deaths are ‘preventable’

MORE people die from opiate abuse than road traffic accidents in Dublin, yet two-thirds of the former are preventable, according to an expert in drug overdose.

There were 83 opiate-related deaths in Dublin in 2001 compared to 53 road fatalities. And 253 people died in traffic accidents between 1998 and 2001 compared with 332 opiate-related deaths in the same period.

Dr Michael Ryan, founding director of the Dublin Opiate Overdose Reaction Strategy (DOORS), said the Government could cut the number of opiate-related deaths for a fraction of the money it invests in tackling road safety.