227 drug-induced deaths in 2023, down 24% - report

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 8 - The deaths reported in Italy in 2023 by police forces and directly attributed to drug use were 227, down 24% compared to 2022 when 298 were registered, according to an annual report published Tuesday by the interior ministry's Central directorate for anti-drug services.
    A reported 191 victims were men (84. 14%) and 36 women (15.86%), the report said.
    The highest mortality rates were registered in users over 25 years of age with a maximum peak at 40 years or older.
    The report found that 47.14% of deaths in 2023 were in northern Italy, 28.19% in the Centre and 24.67% in the South or on the islands.
    Moreover the highest number of drug-induced deaths were registered in the Veneto region, followed by Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Tuscany.
    As far as substances were concerned, heroin caused 72 deaths, followed by cocaine (53) and methadone (30). (ANSA).