Tranquillisers and methadone send drug-related deaths soaring by 30%

Drug-related deaths have soared by almost 30%, with a surge in fatalities involving tranquillisers and methadone, figures show.

Unpublished data shows there were 220 drug poisonings in 2011, compared to 173 in 2010. It is the highest yearly figure since an official database was established in 2004.

The sudden increase in fatalities is being associated with poly-drug use (more than one drug at a time), as well as a hike in deaths involving methadone, the legal substitute for heroin, and prescription tranquillisers known as benzodiazepines.