Lexi Webster
Drug overdose deaths are a significant issue in Australia, with the number of fatalities rising over the years. In 2022, there were 2,356 drug-induced deaths, equating to approximately six lives lost daily. Since the year 2000, there have been 42,000 overdose deaths, with opioids and heroin being the most common causes. Alcohol abuse is also a growing problem, with an estimated 6,000 deaths in 2020 due to excessive drinking. These statistics highlight the devastating impact of substance abuse in Australia and the need for effective prevention strategies and harm reduction approaches.
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What You'll Learn
Drug-induced deaths in 2023
Drug-induced deaths are defined as those that can be directly attributed to drug use, such as when a drug overdose is recorded as the underlying cause of death, as determined by toxicology and pathology reports. In Australia in 2023, there were 1,160 drug-induced deaths in major cities (an age-standardised rate of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 people) and 444 in regional and remote areas (6.2 deaths per 100,000 people). The rate of drug-induced deaths increased and then decreased back to 2009 levels for both regional and remote areas and major cities between 2009 and 2023.
While data for 2023 is limited, the trend of drug-induced deaths in Australia has been on the rise in previous years, with 2,356 drug-induced deaths recorded in 2022, equating to approximately six lives lost each day. This represents a significant public health issue, with overdose deaths exceeding Australia's road toll in 2022. The rate of unintentional drug-induced deaths is also disproportionately higher among Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Opioids are a significant contributor to drug-induced deaths in Australia, with opioids present in close to two-thirds (64.5%) of the 1,740 registered drug-induced deaths in 2018. Pharmaceutical opioids are involved in over 70% of opioid-induced deaths, and the rate of deaths with synthetic opioids present has increased significantly over the last decade. In 2018, there was a decrease in the number of deaths with natural and semi-synthetic opioids present compared to the previous year. However, these opioids still have the highest mortality rate over time.
Other drugs contributing to the overall number of drug-induced deaths in Australia include heroin, methamphetamine, and alcohol. Heroin use and possession are criminalised in Australia as a Class A drug, and the number of heroin-induced deaths has been on the rise, with 604 deaths between 2016 and 2017, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Methamphetamine is also a prominent contributor to overdose deaths. Alcohol abuse is a growing problem in Australia, with an estimated 6,000 deaths in 2020 attributed to excessive drinking.
Risk factors for drug-induced deaths include personal history of self-harm, which is the most commonly identified psychosocial risk factor across most drug types. For cocaine, family disruption due to separation and divorce is the most common risk factor, while limitations of activities due to disability is the second most common risk factor for natural and semi-synthetic opioids.
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Opioid-induced deaths
Opioids are considered a serious public health issue in Australia. Opioid-induced fatalities are predominantly unintentional overdoses in middle-aged males, often involving the use of multiple pharmaceutical opioids. In 2018, there were 1,740 registered drug-induced deaths in Australia, with opioids present in almost two-thirds (1,123 deaths or 64.5%) of these cases. This equates to just over three opioid-induced deaths per day. The rate of opioid-induced deaths per capita in 2018 was slightly lower than in 2017, with 4.6 per 100,000 people compared to 4.8 per 100,000 people.
Pharmaceutical opioids are present in over 70% of opioid-induced deaths. Synthetic opioids, in particular, have seen a significant increase in their presence in opioid-induced deaths over the last decade. In contrast, there was a decrease in the number of deaths involving naturally derived and semi-synthetic opioids in 2018 compared to 2017. Synthetic opioids include drugs such as fentanyl and tramadol, while naturally derived and semi-synthetic opioids include heroin, codeine, oxycodone, morphine, and opium. Opium is considered a "weak" opioid and is an illicit substance in Australia.
The rate of opioid-induced deaths peaked in the late 1990s at 6.5 per 100,000 people, largely due to heroin use. More recent data from 2022 shows that opioids were present in 3 out of 5 drug-induced deaths, with an age-standardised rate of 4.0 per 100,000 population. Most opioid-related deaths (82% or 834 deaths) were considered accidental. Benzodiazepines were also present in a significant number of drug-induced deaths (42% or 703 deaths), with an age-standardised rate of 2.7 per 100,000 population.
Overall, drug-induced deaths are more likely to occur among males, individuals aged in their 40s and 50s, and those living in disadvantaged areas of Australia. The median age at death from drug-induced causes was 50.0 years for females and 45.4 years for males. The rate of death was almost twice as high for males (9.1 deaths per 100,000 population) as for females (4.9 per 100,000).
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Alcohol-related deaths
Alcohol-induced deaths are defined as those directly attributable to alcohol use, such as chronic conditions like liver cirrhosis or acute cases of alcohol poisoning. In 2022, the median age at death from all drug-induced deaths was 45.4 years for males and 50.0 years for females, with the highest rate among those aged 45-54 (15 per 100,000 population).
The risk of alcohol-related harm is not limited to physical health but also extends to social and economic consequences. For instance, 1.7% of consumers aged 14 or older were injured while under the influence of alcohol, requiring medical attention, and 0.8% were hospitalised for their injuries. The risk of injury and hospitalisation increases significantly for those consuming 11 or more standard drinks in a single day at least monthly, with 10.2% requiring medical attention.
While the rate of alcohol-induced deaths in Australia is concerning, it is important to note that the terminology and data collection methods can vary between organisations. For instance, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Penington Institute include some deaths attributable to alcohol use, such as acute alcohol toxicity, but may not capture all chronic conditions partially caused by alcohol.
Furthermore, alcohol-related deaths are part of a broader context of drug-induced deaths in Australia. In 2022, there were 2,356 drug-induced deaths, equating to approximately six lives lost each day. Inadequate governmental leadership and jurisdictional disputes have exacerbated the grief and frustration among communities affected by the rising overdose toll. Despite challenges in data standardisation and an increasingly dangerous global drug market, there is a growing need for improved drug literacy and comprehensive harm reduction strategies in Australia.
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Illicit drug use injuries
Illicit drug use is a significant issue in Australia, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Drug-induced deaths, defined as those directly attributable to drug use (e.g. overdose), have been on the rise in recent years. In 2022, there were 2,356 drug-induced deaths in Australia, translating to approximately six lives lost each day. This is a sobering milestone, with over 42,000 overdose deaths since the year 2000.
The impact of illicit drug use extends beyond fatalities, with many individuals experiencing injuries while under the influence. Data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) reveals that 2.6% of people aged 14 and over who recently used illicit drugs reported injuries requiring medical attention. Notably, 1.3% of these injuries were severe enough to warrant hospitalisation. Furthermore, 1.0% of recent illicit drug users reported overdosing, with 0.7% requiring admission to a hospital. These statistics highlight the tangible dangers associated with illicit drug use.
Males have been disproportionately affected by drug-induced deaths, accounting for over two-thirds of such fatalities in 2022. Additionally, individuals in their 40s and 50s, particularly those in the 45-54 age bracket, have the highest rate of drug-induced deaths. Geographical disparities also exist, with major cities recording a higher number of drug-induced deaths than regional and remote areas.
The types of drugs contributing to overdose deaths vary, with heroin and methamphetamine being prominent factors. Pharmaceutical opioids are also of concern, present in over 70% of opioid-induced deaths. The rate of deaths involving synthetic opioids has increased significantly over the last decade, while deaths involving natural and semi-synthetic opioids have shown a recent decline. Mental health conditions and behavioural disorders due to drug use are prevalent among those who succumb to opioid-induced deaths.
The Australian government has recognised the severity of the issue and has implemented initiatives such as the National Ice Action Strategy to combat the harm caused by ice addiction and reduce the availability of harmful drugs. Despite these efforts, the ever-changing landscape of drug trends and the emergence of new substances, such as nitazenes, underscore the urgent need for improved drug literacy and comprehensive harm reduction strategies.
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Heroin overdose deaths
Drug-induced deaths in Australia are defined as those directly attributable to drug use, with overdose as the underlying cause of death. In 2022, there were 2,356 drug-induced deaths in Australia, with the rate of unintentional drug-induced deaths significantly higher among Indigenous Australians. Since the year 2000, there have been 42,000 overdose deaths in the country.
Heroin overdose is the most common cause of accidental illicit drug overdose in Australia. Those at greatest risk are naive users and those who are not tolerant. Males are five times more likely to die from an accidental illicit drug overdose than females. In Sydney, Australia, between July 1995 and February 1997, there were 143 accidental illicit drug overdoses identified from 3,559 autopsies (4%). Toxicological results showed that 80% of these deaths were associated with morphine (heroin) levels in the toxic range, although 91% had morphine present at some level.
In 2018, there were 438 heroin-induced deaths in Australia, with opioids present in close to two-thirds of registered drug-induced deaths. Victoria had the highest count of heroin-induced deaths (165) across states and territories, while Western Australia recorded the highest death rate at 3.1 per 100,000 people.
Recent data shows a shift in the profile of opioid-induced deaths away from pharmaceutical drugs and towards heroin. Over two-thirds of drug-induced deaths in 2022 occurred among males (64% or 1,082 deaths), compared to one-third for females (36% or 611 deaths). The median age at death was higher for females than males (50.0 and 45.4 years, respectively).
There is an urgent need for increased awareness and education about the dangers of heroin and other illicit drugs, especially for naive users. Public health services need to target this group with education and improved awareness programs to help curb the rise in heroin-related deaths.
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Frequently asked questions
There were 1,160 drug-induced deaths in major cities and 444 in regional and remote areas, for a total of 1,604 drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2023.
There were 2,356 drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2022, which equates to approximately six lives lost every day.
As of 2024, there have been 42,000 overdose deaths in Australia since the turn of the century.
