Mitchell's Front Page

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 Int