The National Illicit Drug Indicators Project provides epidemiological data on trends over time in drug-related harms and forms part of the broader Drug Trends program.

This report presents the most recent and in-depth data on overdose and drug-induced deaths in Australia, covering the period from 2004 to 2023. It is the most recent output in a series of annual publications on trends in drug overdose deaths issued by Drug Trends for over 20 years.

This publication includes:

1. Report –  An overview of the 2023 data and trend analysis from 2004-2023
2. Methods – Describes data specification and approaches to data analysis
3. Executive summary – A summary of key findings
4. Infographics – A visual summary of key findings
5. Appendix – Tables showing 2023 rates with comparison to 2022, reported by related factors

Findings are reported by age, sex, jurisdiction, remoteness area, socio-economic status, intent, psychosocial risk factors, and drug type.

Our public online data visualisation allows viewers to disaggregate data in different ways, and to download these images for their own use. 

Jurisdictional summary reports 

For a summary of findings on trends in overdose and other drug-induced deaths for other jurisdictions, please see the full report or go to the jurisdictional summary reports:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Recommended citation

Chrzanowska A, Man N, Sutherland R, Degenhardt L, Peacock A. Trends in overdose and other drug-induced deaths in Australia, 2004-2023. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney; 2025. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/31245.

Data source

We acknowledge all state and territory Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Coroners and the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) for enabling Cause of Death Unit Record File (COD URF) data to be used for this publication.

Funding

Drug Trends is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Drug and Alcohol Program.

Copyright

©NDARC, UNSW SYDNEY 2025 

This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Information Manager, NDARC, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, via drugtrends@unsw.edu.au. 

• NIDIP Deaths 2004-2023 – Report
• NIDIP Deaths 2004-2023 – Methods
• NIDIP Deaths 2004-2023 – Executive summary
• NIDIP Deaths 2004-2023 – Infographics
• NIDIP Deaths 2004-2023 – Appendix