638 people died in 2009 due to drug use

NEW figures show 638 people died as a result of drugs in 2009, with the number killed by heroin rising by 20%.

The statistics for 2009, compiled by the Health Research Board (HRB), are published today, and show that the number of people killed as a result of drug intake rose 51% between 2004 and 2009.

While the number of heroin-related deaths increased in 2009 compared with the previous year, the number of cocaine deaths fell.