With new data revealing Australia’s overdose death rate is continuing to rise, our overdose snapshot shows we have no time to waste in taking action on overdose in our communities.
Penington Institute’s new report, ‘Overdose Early Warning Snapshot’, is an early look at the data that will form the basis of our annual overdose report, set to be released this August.
Preliminary analysis of overdose death data in 2022 shows that overdose deaths have continued to increase since our latest report.
“Measured against last year’s report, we are seeing an alarming and devastating rise in the number of drug-induced deaths recorded year on year in Australia,” says Penington Institute CEO John Ryan.
“In 2022, 2,356 Australians lost their lives due to overdose. That is almost double the number of Australians who died in road traffic accidents (1,276) in the same period.
“We know that with the right interventions, overdose deaths are preventable. There is not a moment to lose.”
This snapshot highlights key high-level insights, demonstrating the widespread impact of overdose on the community.
More comprehensive analysis will be released in August in Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2024, ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August.
Download the report: Overdose Early Warning Snapshot 2024
Media contact: Warwick Green, w.green@penington.org.au / +61 439 647 144
