Reference: FOI-2024-1889
You asked
This is an FOI request regarding the drug Pregabalin which is used in anxiety, pain management and epilepsy.
Please could you let me have the following information:
- How many deaths (total numbers per year) attributed to Pregabalin have there been annually from 2013 to 2023?
- How many deaths occur as a result of drug-related causes annually from 2013 to 2023?
- What are the demographics for deaths from Pregabalin per year from 2013-2023?
- What are the common causes of death from Pregabalin?
We said
1. We do not produce statistics specifically on deaths pertaining to the drug Pregabalin in our Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2022 registrations. Unfortunately, we would be unable to provide you with any 2023 data at this time. 2023 data cannot be released until ONS publishes its updated deaths related to drug poisonings in England and Wales in autumn 2024; however, Pregabalin will be included next time with a time series that covers your period of interest (2013 to 2023). To note our figures in this release are by date the death is registered, not the date it occurred, because of the influence of registration delays affecting deaths from drug-related causes.
Statistics have been published as a result of user requested data for most of the period you are interested in for England and Wales. You might be interested in this user requested data Death registrations related to Gabapentin or Pregabalin, England and Wales: 2018 and 2022 which contains counts of deaths related to pregabalin for the years 2018 to 2022. In addition, Drug-related poisonings involving pregabalin, GHB or synthetic cannabinoids, in England and Wales, deaths registered between 1993 and 2018 provides mentions of Pregabalin on the death certificate.
ONS will publish deaths related to Pregabalin registered in the years 2013 to 2023 and occurred in the years 2013 to 2022 in its next release planned for autumn 2024.
As such, the number of deaths attributed to Pregabalin registered in 2023 and occurred between 2013 to 2022 are exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), as the information will be published in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.
2. We produce figures on drug-related deaths in our Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales: 2022 registrations publication. This provides counts of deaths between 1993 and 2021 by year of occurrence in the data tables accompanying the release. The next publication containing occurrence-based statistics related to 2022 is due to be published later in 2024 after mortality data is finalised.
Due to the length of time it takes to complete a coroner's inquest, it can take months or even years for a drug-related death to be registered. More details can be found in our Impact of Registration delays bulletin.
Therefore, we would be unable to provide you with the number of deaths that have occurred as a result of drug-related causes in 2023, as we do not hold the data at this time.
3. We do not intend to include Pregabalin related deaths broken down by age and sex in our next publication, only by year of registration up to 2023 and year of occurrence up to 2022. The reason is that the annual number of deaths is not commensurate with further disaggregation by age and sex because of risks posed by disclosure of individuals.
However, if you wish to obtain this analysis, we may be able to create a custom output via our bespoke services. These services are subject to legal frameworks, disclosure control, resources and agreements of costs, in line with the ONS Charging Policy. Please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk for more information.
As this information is reasonably accessible via another route, even if only accessible on payment, Section 21(2)(a) of FOIA applies.
4. Our drug related deaths dataset is based on deaths where the underlying cause of death was coded to the International Classification of diseases codes;
- F11 – F16 – Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco)
- F18 – F19 – Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances
- X40 – X44 – Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances
- X60 – X64 – Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances
- X85 – Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances
- Y10 – Y14 – Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent
Unfortunately, we do not hold analysis showing the common causes of death associated with Pregabalin. This information would need to be created, involving statistical expertise and experience to appropriately interpret and categorise information into meaningful analysis. Public authorities are not obliged to create new information to answer FOI requests. Therefore, the information requested is not held.
However, as above, if you would like to discuss the provision of this data via our bespoke services route, please contact: Health.Data@ons.gov.uk.