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In 2024, there were 2,005 drug-induced deaths registered in Australia, equivalent to 7.3 deaths per 100,000 people and more than five deaths each day. Drug-induced deaths accounted for around 1.1% of all registered deaths nationally.

Although the age-standardised mortality rate remained below the historical peak of 8.2 deaths per 100,000 people recorded in 2017, preliminary estimates indicate a significant increase from 6.8 to 7.3 deaths per 100,000 people from 2023 to 2024, contrasting with the broader decline in Australia's all-cause mortality rate during the same period. Together, these findings suggest that the downward trend in drug-induced mortality observed between 2017 and 2023 may have stalled.

^{Figure 1: Number and age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-induced deaths, Australia, 2005-2024}

Sex

Drug-induced mortality continued to disproportionately affect males, who accounted for two-thirds of all deaths and experienced a 10% increase in mortality rate between 2023 and 2024, with the rate reaching 9.9 deaths per 100,000 males.

^{Figure 2: Number and age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-induced deaths by sex, Australia, 2005-2024}

Age

Adults aged 45-54 years accounted for the largest proportion of deaths (26%) and had the highest population rate of 16 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by those aged 35-44 years (23% and 12 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively). The only significant change between 2023 and 2024 occurred among those aged 25-34 years, whose mortality rate increased by 27%, reaching 7.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024. Although changes in other age groups were not statistically significant, the mortality rate among people aged 65-74 years reached the highest level recorded during the monitoring period, while the rate among those aged 45-54 years remained among the highest observed over the past two decades.

^{Figure 3: Crude rate per 100,000 people of drug-induced deaths for the Australian population, by age group, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 4: Crude rate per 100,000 people of drug-induced deaths for the Australian population of females (A) and males (B), by age group, 2005-2024}

Remoteness Area of Usual Residence 

Most deaths occurred among residents of major cities (73%), with the mortality rate increasing by 9.9% from 2023 to 7.3 deaths per 100,000 people, the same rate as in inner regional areas. The increase observed nationally in 2024 was largely driven by higher mortality among males living in major cities (from 8.8 in 2023 to 10 deaths per 100,000 males in 2024), while rates across regional and remote Australia remained comparatively stable. 

^{Figure 5: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-induced deaths for the Australian population, by remoteness area, 2009-2024}

Socioeconomic Advantage and Disadvantage 

Drug-induced deaths also continued to disproportionately affect people living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, with nearly one-third (30%) of all deaths occurring among quintile 1 and nearly one-quarter (23%) among quintile 2 (the two most disadvantaged areas).

^{Figure 8: Percentage of drug-induced deaths by the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage  (IRSAD) quintiles, Australia, 2018-2024}

Drug overdose accounted for 97% of all drug-induced deaths. The increase observed in 2024 was driven by unintentional overdose deaths, with the mortality rate increasing by 13% compared to 2023, whereas intentional overdose mortality showed little overall change. Most overdose deaths occurred in the person's home, and personal history of self-harm remained the most frequently recorded psychosocial risk factor, highlighting the ongoing importance of mental health support, overdose prevention and timely emergency response.

^{Figure 10: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths by intent, Australia, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 14: Most frequently identified places of occurrence for drug overdose deaths, Australia, 2006-2024}

^{Infographic: Most common psychosocial risk factors in drug-induced deaths, Australia, 2024}

Opioids remained the most commonly involved drug class, contributing to 1,082 overdose deaths (4.0 deaths per 100,000 people) in 2024. Overdose deaths involving heroin increased significantly between 2023 and 2024 (32%), reaching 2.0 deaths per 100,000 people, a rate comparable to the peaks observed in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

The most pronounced changes in 2024 occurred, however, among stimulant-related deaths. Mortality involving amphetamine-type stimulants increased by 29% from 2023 to 2024, reaching the highest rate observed during the monitoring period (2.9 deaths per 100,000 people), while cocaine-related mortality increased by 40% to a peak of 0.54 deaths per 100,000 people.

The increase in deaths involving amphetamine-type stimulants was driven by a substantial increase in male mortality, whose rate increased from 3.2 in 2023 to 4.3 deaths per 100,000 males in 2024. Higher rates were recorded across all age groups, with statistically significant changes noted among those aged 25-34, 35-44 and 55-64 years.

In contrast, overdose deaths involving antipsychotics and neuroleptics continued to decline. The 2024 rate was significantly lower than the 2023 rate (1.2 and 1.4 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively). Rates involving antidepressants, alcohol, non-opioid analgesics and cannabinoids were similar to those observed in 2023, with no statistically significant changes observed.

Polysubstance involvement: Polydrug use remained a defining feature of overdose mortality. Between 2020 and 2024, among overdose deaths involving at least one selected drug class, almost three-quarters (73%) of overdose deaths involved two or more major drug classes.

These findings indicate that recent changes in Australia's overdose profile have been driven increasingly by stimulant-related harms, rather than broad increases across all drug classes.

^{Figure 15: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths for the Australian population, by drug class, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 16: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths for (A) female and (B) male, by drug class, Australia, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 22: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths involving opioids by opioid type, Australia, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 23: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths involving opioids by other drugs involved, Australia, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 20: Crude rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths involving opioids for the Australian population, by age, 2005-2024}

^{Figure 25: Crude rate per 100,000 people of drug overdose deaths involving amphetamine-type stimulants for the Australian population, by age, 2005-2024}

The following jurisdictional summary reports provide an overview of overdose and other drug-induced deaths in each Australian state and territory. Each report presents trends from 2005 to 2024, including patterns by age group, sex, remoteness area, and intent where data allows. Together, they highlight jurisdiction-specific patterns of drug-related harm and support comparisons across Australia.

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
• New South Wales (NSW)
• Northern Territory (NT)
• Queensland (Qld)
• South Australia (SA)
• Tasmania (Tas)
• Victoria (Vic)
• Western Australia (WA)

Chrzanowska A, Man N, Sutherland R, Degenhardt L, Peacock A. Trends in overdose and other drug-induced deaths in Australia, 2005-2024. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 91É«ÇéƬ Sydney; 2026. Available from: 

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.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this work was undertaken. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that same respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise their continuing connection to Country, culture and community.

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

©NDARC, 91É«ÇéƬ SYDNEY 2026 

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