Ewha Med J.  2024 Apr;47(2):e27. 10.12771/emj.2024.e27.

Drug-induced death statistics in Korea between 2011 and 2021

• Lee S

• KMID: 2556316
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2024.e27

Abstract

Objectives
This study analyzed drug-induced death statistics in Korea between 2011 and 2021.
Methods
Cause-of-death statistics data from Statistics Korea were examined based on the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases and Causes of Death and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision.
Results
In 2021, there were 559 drug-induced deaths, marking a 172.7% increase compared to 2011, which recorded 205 deaths. The rate of drug-induced deaths per 100,000 people was 1.1 in 2021, up 153.6% from 0.4 in 2011. The mortality rate for men aged 25−34 years and women aged 35−44 years each increased fourfold from 2011 to 2021: from 0.3 to 1.2 for the former and 0.3 to 1.3 for the latter. Of the drug-induced deaths in 2021, 75.0% (419/559) were due to intentional self-harm, and 10.4% (58/559) were accidental. The number of deaths attributed to medical narcotics in 2021 was 169, a 5.5-fold increase from 2011. The most commonly implicated drugs in these deaths were sedativehypnotic drugs, benzodiazepines, and opioids. Sedative-hypnotic drugs and benzodiazepines were frequently involved in cases of intentional self-harm, while opioids and psychostimulants were more often associated with accidental deaths.
Conclusion
The death rate from drug-induced causes is considerably lower in Korea than in the United States (1.1 vs. 29.2). However, the number of such deaths has increased recently. Since these deaths occur predominantly among younger age groups and are often the result of intentional selfharm, there is a clear need for systematic management and the implementation of targeted policies.

Keyword

Cause of death; Narcotics; Analgesics, opioid; International Classification of Diseases; Republic of Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Drug-induced deaths, death rate, and age-standardized death rate, 2011−2021 (units: people, per 100,000 people, and per 100,000 standard population).

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  Fig. 2. Proportional age distribution for drug-induced deaths versus total deaths, 2021.

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  Fig. 3. Annual average number of drug-induced deaths by sex and age, 2019−2021.

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  Fig. 4. Number of deaths and death rate due to medical narcotics, 2011−2021.

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  Fig. 5. Number of deaths due to medical narcotics, 2011−2021.

Reference

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