This webinar presented new and most current data on trends in overdose and other drug-induced deaths in Australia. You download a copy of the report here.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) has reported on overdose deaths in Australia via an annual national report for over two decades through Drug Trends, an Australian national illicit drug monitoring system funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 

This webinar discussed findings on trends in overdose and other drug-trend deaths in Australia included in the 2023 report and addressed topics such as whether there are:

• Changes in overdoses involving drugs like opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, or pharmaceutical medicines (e.g., benzodiazepines, pregabalin);
• Trends for unintentional (i.e., ‘overdose’) versus intentional drug poisoning deaths;
• Trends in overdose being observed across Australia, particularly for major cities versus regional and remote areas; and
• Trends in overdose since the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions.

About the Speaker 

Amy Peacock is an Associate Professor and Acting Deputy Director of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. 

Amy was joined by

• Alyce Hall, Director, Research and International Policy Section, Alcohol & Other Drugs Branch, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
• Lauren Moran, Director, Mortality Data Centre, Health and Vital Statistics Section, Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Melanie Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Alcohol and other Drugs Council
• Paul Dessauer, Chief Executive Officer, Peer Based Harm Reduction WA