Penington Institute Presents: Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026
Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026
Penington Institute champions an open, rational, and compassionate approach to building and sharing knowledge to reduce drug-related harm.
We push for an effective regulatory framework for cannabis defined by public health goals, with priority placed on targeted prevention, education, and treatment.
Penington Institute produces Australia’s Annual Overdose Report to demonstrate the nature of the overdose crisis and to support change to reduce drug-induced deaths.
Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026
The ‘snapshot’ of our Australia’s Annual Overdose Report shows: Drug-induced deaths reached 2,596 in 2024, the highest number on record Unintentional overdose deaths rose 15.1% to 2,091 deaths Heroin-related deaths reached the highest level recorded this century Deaths involving stimulants increased by 25.1% in a single year Cocaine-related deaths
One death every 3.5 hours: Australia’s deadliest overdose year on record demands urgent national action New data shows 2,596 Australians died from drug-induced causes in 2024, the highest number ever recorded. Australia is losing seven people every day to overdose – that’s one son, daughter, partner or friend every 3.5
Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026
The ‘snapshot’ of our Australia’s Annual Overdose Report shows: Drug-induced deaths reached 2,596 in 2024, the highest number on record Unintentional overdose deaths rose 15.1% to 2,091 deaths Heroin-related deaths reached the highest level recorded this century Deaths involving stimulants increased by 25.1% in a single year Cocaine-related deaths
One death every 3.5 hours: Australia’s deadliest overdose year on record demands urgent national action New data shows 2,596 Australians died from drug-induced causes in 2024, the highest number ever recorded. Australia is losing seven people every day to overdose – that’s one son, daughter, partner or friend every 3.5
Penington Institute convenes the world’s largest annual campaign to end the overdose crisis. International Overdose Awareness Day falls on August 31 each year.
