Overdose deaths in Australia soar past 2000 annually, sparking urgent push for prevention

More than 2000 Australians have died by drug overdose in 12 months, sparking calls for immediate action.

Penington Institute research has found that more than six people were lost to overdoses each day, and 80 per cent of the deaths were accidental.

“We’re losing significantly more Australians to drug overdoses than on our roads,” chief executive John Ryan said.

Over the past year, 2272 people died from an overdose, marking 10 consecutive years of more than 2000 fatalities.

“Pause and consider that figure - it’s as if a Boeing 737 plane full of people crashed every month,” Mr Ryan said.

Opioids remain the biggest driver of deaths, involved in nearly half of all unintentional overdoses.

Stimulants, such as amphetamines and MDMA, also contribute, overtaking benzodiazepines, which are drugs prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety and insomnia.

The crisis is increasingly impacting older Australians.

Unintentional drug-induced deaths among people aged 50 to 59 have increased by 305 per cent, while deaths among those aged 60 to 69 have jumped by 179 per cent.

In contrast, deaths among people under 30 declined by 34 per cent over 25 years.

Indigenous Australians die unintentionally from drug overdoses at a rate more than three and a half times higher than non-Indigenous Australians.

Penington Institute research director Jake Dizard called for a national prevention strategy.

“Given the reality of many people taking drugs and always will be, what we want to see are evidence-based solutions,” he told AAP.

“We’ve taken action on nicotine addiction and road toll deaths. We need to drastically take action to stop overdose deaths.

“These deaths are preventable.”

Dr Dizard also urged greater investment in distributing the life-saving medication naloxone, which reverses an opioid overdose.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636