Drug-Related Deaths in France in 2007: Estimates and Implications

Abstract

Compared with other European countries, France's low number of drug use-related deaths may appear enviable. Previous studies have suggested significant underreporting. The three official records listing drug-related deaths in France in 2007 were cross-checked. Different capture-recapture techniques were applied. The estimated numbers of drug-related deaths differ from the official figures. Different explanations and proposals to improve the recordings are consequently discussed. However, there are doubts as to the reliability of at least one of the records and the consequent accuracy of the proportion of overlapping cases. Estimates should be handled with caution and interpreted as upper bounds.

Injecting drug users in Scotland, 2006: Listing, number, demography, and opiate-related death-rates

“…The EMCDDA had utilized: (i) national estimates of problem opioid users or IDUs, which are typically derived by CRC methods (Fienberg, 1972; Frischer et al., 1993; King & Brooks, 2001) and below ; (ii) national statistics on drug-induced deaths, some subject to substantial registration delays (see http://www.rss.org.uk/site/cms/newsarticle.asp?chapter=15&nid=33; accessed on 12 April 2012), others to under-reporting (Janssen, 2011); and (iii) studies of mortality among problem drug users who, for the most part, were enlisted because they had attended drug treatment services, been arrested, or been diagnosed with a blood-borne virus (see, e.g. Strang, McCambridge, & Best, 2003; Davoli, Bargali, & Perucci, 2007; Hickman et al., 2009; McDonald et al., 2009; Bird on behalf of European COSMO Workshop, 2010; Kimber et al., 2010; Gibson, Randall, & Degenhardt, 2011; Merrall, Bird, & Hutchinson, 2012).…”