Predicting trends in fatal drug overdoses in Ireland: does day of the week matter? Simone Walsh, Ena Lynn and Suzi Lyons

NDRDI Background National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) established in 2005 Funded by Dept. of Health and Dept. of Justice and Equality European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

Overview 2,734 individuals died between 1998 and 2009 of a fatal drug overdose (poisoning) in Ireland Age and Gender Significant Events (Christmas, St Patricks Day) Substance involved and route of administration Who deceased was with and where they were at the time of death

All NDRDI Poisoning Deaths 1998 to 2009

All NDRDI poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, by day of the week, n=2734 5

All NDRDI poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, gender by day of the week, n=2734 6

All NDRDI poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of the WeekMedian Age Monday35 Tuesday35 Wednesday36 Thursday35 Friday35 Saturday34 Sunday33

All NDRDI poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of the WeekMedian Age Monday35 Tuesday35 Wednesday36 Thursday35 Friday35 Saturday34 Sunday33

All NDRDI poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of the WeekMedian Age Monday35 Tuesday35 Wednesday36 Thursday35 Friday35 Saturday34 Sunday33

All Cocaine Poisonings NDRDI 1998 to 2009

All cocaine poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, by day of the week, n=318 11

Cocaine Poisonings Excluding Opiates NDRDI, 1998 to 2009

Cocaine poisonings excluding opiates 1998 to 2009, by day of the week n=146 13

Cocaine poisonings excluding opiates 1998 to 2009, gender by day of the week n=146 14

Cocaine poisonings excluding opiates 1998 to 2009, who with by day of the week n=146 15

Heroin Poisonings NDRDI 1998 to 2009

Heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, by day of the week, NDRDI n=643 17

Non-injecting Heroin Poisoning Deaths NDRDI,1998 to 2009

Non-injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, by day of the week, n=234 19

Non-injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, gender by day of the week, n=234 20

Non-injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of The WeekMedian Age Monday31 Tuesday28 Wednesday30 Thursday29 Friday28 Saturday27 Sunday29

Non-injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of The WeekMedian Age Monday31 Tuesday28 Wednesday30 Thursday29 Friday28 Saturday27 Sunday29

Non-injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of The WeekMedian Age Monday31 Tuesday28 Wednesday30 Thursday29 Friday28 Saturday27 Sunday29

Non-injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, who with at time of death, n=234 24

Injecting Heroin Poisoning Deaths NDRDI 1998 to 2009

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, by day of the week, n=405 26

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, by gender and day of the week, n=405 27

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of the WeekMedian Age Monday31 Tuesday32 Wednesday33 Thursday31 Friday31 Saturday27 Sunday25

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of the WeekMedian Age Monday31 Tuesday32 Wednesday33 Thursday31 Friday31 Saturday27 Sunday25

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, median age by day of the week, n= Day of the WeekMedian Age Monday31 Tuesday32 Wednesday33 Thursday31 Friday31 Saturday27 Sunday25

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, who with at time of death, n=405 31

Injecting heroin poisoning deaths 1998 to 2009, who with at time of death, n=405 32

All NDRDI Deaths by Week of the Month NDRDI, 1998 to 2009

All NDRDI deaths by week of the month, 1998 to 2009, n = 2,734 34

All female NDRDI poisoning deaths Tuesday and Wednesday n=220 35

All female NDRDI poisoning deaths Tuesday and Wednesday n=220 36

Findings Delivering harm reduction messages and treatment outcomes - day of the week does matter Subgroups within the drug using population are at risk different times of the week or month Opportunity to save a life