Fall in number of drug overdose deaths may be 'a phenomenon of the covid pandemic'

The Health Research Board said there were significant decreases in deaths involving opioids (heroin and methadone), benzodiazepines (anxiety medication) and cocaine. File picture: Getty

There was a 19% fall in the number of fatal drug overdoses in 2021, but health authorities have cautioned this could reflect the impact of covid-19 rather than a true change in trends.

The Health Research Board (HRB) said there were 354 drug poisoning deaths in 2021, compared to 439 in 2020, which was the highest year on record.