Significant Drop in Poisoning-Related Fatalities Reported

Recent data from the National Board of Forensic Medicine indicates a noteworthy decrease in deaths attributed to poisoning, which involves fatalities caused by drugs or medications, whether alone or in combination with other substances. In the previous year, the total number of such deaths was recorded at 641, marking a decline from 782 cases in 2023.

Carl Söderberg, a senior physician at the National Board of Forensic Medicine, emphasized that these figures are preliminary but reflect an ongoing trend. He noted, "We are observing a consistent reduction in poisoning-related deaths compared to earlier years. This decline has been evident since 2022."

Among the various substances involved, heroin has seen one of the most substantial reductions in associated fatalities over the past few years. Deaths linked to heroin decreased from 111 cases in 2019 to just 40 in 2024.

In contrast, the opioid painkiller oxycodone was the substance linked to the highest number of poisoning deaths last year, contributing to 90 fatalities.

Below is a summary of the number of deaths attributed to poisoning involving drugs and/or medications over recent years:

• 2018 - 831 cases
• 2019 - 837 cases
• 2020 - 768 cases
• 2021 - 723 cases
• 2022 - 815 cases
• 2023 - 782 cases
• 2024 - 641 cases (preliminary data)

Source: National Board of Forensic Medicine.