Around two people died each day from causes linked to drug causes in 2016.
The latest data from the Health Research Board show there were 736 deaths linked to drugs in 2016.
That's 71% more than in 2004, and similar to the 735 recorded in 2015.
Prescription drugs such as methadone were implicated in around 70% of overdose deaths.
Alcohol continues to be the number one drug implicated in drug-related deaths, either alone or with other drugs.
Image: Health Research BoardDr Darrin Morrissey, Chief Executive at the HRB, explained: "Behind these figures are lives lost and lives cut short.
"The collection of data on drug deaths is essential to understand trends and help service providers design appropriate interventions and help save lives".
Merchants Quay Ireland CEO Paula Byrne, meanwhile, believes people are changing the way they use drugs.
She observed: "We've seen a change in drug use over the last couple of years. We see a lot of drug use in terms of opiates like heroin plus prescription drugs.
People, unfortunately, are mixing - it's poly-drug use we see the increase in.
"We've seen some increase in the last year or two in cocaine and crack cocaine."
