At least 41 people are suspected to have died from using "dangerous drugs" since 2012, a National Police Agency official said.
The figure, which does not include deaths caused by traffic accidents, covers unnatural deaths at sites where "dangerous drugs," which is the term that officials are now using for "dappo" (quasi-legal) drugs, were found and cases in which people somehow associated with the deaths mentioned use of those drugs.
The figure was reported Monday to a Lower House committee meeting regarding "dangerous drugs," which are not illegal in Japan but induce effects similar to illegal narcotics and have resulted in serious problems.