Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2025

Last week the Penington Institute released their annual overdose report for 2025. The report found that in 2023 there were 2,272 overdose deaths - equivalent to over 6 people per day (higher than the national road toll). Significantly, 78% of all overdose deaths were unintentional.

Opioids continue to be the most common drug type associated with overdose deaths. However, in 2023 stimulants replaced benzodiazepines as the second-most common drug type. Overdose did not discriminate between regional and rural versus urban areas, with 6.8 unintentional overdose deaths per 100,000 people outside of capital cities, compared to 6.2 deaths per 100,000 people in greater capital cities. Significant gender differences were found however, with men experiencing much higher rates of death by overdose than women (73%).

The report emphasises that every overdose death represents a person who is lost to family members and communities, and that many of these deaths are preventable through evidence based strategies such as easy access to naloxone, drug-checking services, medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence, community education, and care models that bring together drug treatment, mental health, and social services.

To read the full report, click here.