Penington Institute Deputy CEO Stephen McNally talks about the key findings of Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2021 which was released today.

The key findings of the report were:

• 2,227 Australians died of overdose in 2019 – three-quarters (1,644) of which were unintentional.
• Overdose deaths have increased by 25% in a decade (from 2009 to 2019)
• Opioids were detected in 882 unintentional overdose deaths in 2019, while benzodiazepines (sedatives) were detected in 582 unintentional overdose deaths and stimulants (e.g. ice) were found in 470 such deaths.
• For Australians in their 30s, overdose was the second most common cause of death in 2019 behind only suicide, while for Australians in their 20s, overdose was the third-leading cause of death behind suicide and land transport accidents.
• There were 456 drug-induced suicides in 2019 (a 33% increase since 2009). One-third of drug-induced suicides are people aged over 60.
• Overdose deaths cost the Australian economy approximately $15.5 billion a year.

The post International Overdose Awareness Day – overdose a hidden health crisis appeared first on Mitchell's Front Page.