SIDNEY, Australia – July 2019: The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales Sidney released data on drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2017. Out of the 1,591 drug-induced deaths among Australians aged 15-64 in 2017, 1,072 were opioids-induced deaths, 232 of which involved synthetic opioids. Deaths induced by synthetic opioids have increased from 0.05 in 2004 to 1.4 deaths per 100,000 people aged 15-64 in 2017, with rates being higher among males than females over that period.

The NDARC report states that there is little evidence of deaths involving fentanyl analogues occurring in large numbers in Australia, although there are single case studies of deaths and various efforts underway to detect these substances, including wastewater analyses and urine screening.

Figure 1: Rate of opioid-induced deaths per 100,000 people aged 15-64 for heroin, methadone, natural and semi-synthetic opioids (e.g. morphine, oxycodone) , opium, synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl, tramadol) and other opioids, 1997-2017

Source: Drug Trends 2019, NDARC.

Note: Synthetic opioids include for example fentanyl and tramadol.

 

For more information please see:
Chrzanowska, A. et al., 2019. Trends in drug-induced deaths in Australia, 1997-2017. Sidney.
UNODC Opioid Strategy and United Nations Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs
UNODC – Global Smart Update 21, 2019: Understanding the global opioid crisis