A total of 2,442 drug-related deaths were recorded in Ireland between 1998 and 2005, according to the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI), which is maintained by the Alcohol and Drug Research Unit of the Health Research Board. Of these, 1,553 were directly drug-related poisonings, and 889 were indirectly drug-related deaths (nonpoisonings). The annual number of poisoning deaths increased from 178 in 1998 to 232 in 2005. The majority of such deaths involved males, ages 20-40 years old. Of the drug poisonings, 46 percent involved a single drug or substance. Heroin and unspecified opiates accounted for 22.3 percent of the single-drug poisonings; analgesics that contained an opiate compound accounted for 11.9 percent of the deaths, and methadone accounted for 8.5 percent of deaths. Just over half of all poisonings involved polysubstances, with the annual proportion being similar in each year of the 8-year period. Of the polysubstance deaths, 46.2 percent included an opiate (mainly heroin or methadone), and 21.1 percent included an analgesic that contained an opiate compound. The number of drug-poisoning deaths in which cocaine was implicated increased from 5 in 1998 to 34 in 2005. Prescription medications and over-the-counter medications were implicated in many of the poisoning deaths, with benzodiazepines playing a major role in 30 percent of poisoning deaths. One-quarter of poisoning deaths involved alcohol combined with another drug or substance. Solvents were implicated in 33 deaths, which mainly involved youth under 19 years old. The number of deaths indirectly related to drug use increased from 64 in 1998 to 168 in 2005, which reflects the increasing number of people who are consuming drugs, taking risks, developing dependencies, or who have developed other illnesses linked to drug use. 7 figures, 7 tables, and 19 references