Overdose Deaths in Australia: A Crisis We Cannot Ignore
In line with World Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August, the Penington Institute has released Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2025, shining a light on the devastating overdose crisis in our country.
The report revealed that in 2023, 2,272 Australians lost their lives to overdose. While this figure is down slightly from 2022, it marks the tenth consecutive year that more than 2,000 people have died from drug induced causes. Tragically, the number of overdose deaths was almost double the national road toll (1,315 deaths).
Behind every number is a real person, someone who was loved and gave love. Their lives mattered. Today is an important reminder that addiction does not erase the love someone has given or the life they lived.
At Sir David Martin Foundation, we are acutely aware of how addiction can overwhelm lives, particularly among young Australians. The programs we fund like Triple Care Farm address the root causes of addiction and provide the treatment and support young people need to rebuild their futures. With more than three-quarters of all drug induced deaths in 2023 being unintentional, it is vital that those on their recovery journey have access to ongoing care. Triple Care Farm’s holistic approach offers a safe space for young people to withdraw, rehabilitate and transition back into the community through Aftercare. This gives young people the chance to not just get well but stay well.
The report highlights that overdose deaths do not affect all communities equally. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience disproportionately high rates of drug-induced deaths (21.3 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 5.7 among non-Indigenous Australians). Overdose deaths are also increasingly occurring in suburban living rooms and regional towns, far beyond the stereotype of street-based drug use.
The report also found worrying trends in substances involved. Opioids remained the most common drug involved in unintentional overdose deaths, contributing to almost half (43.9%) of all cases in 2023. Stimulants were the second most common (33.1%), with cocaine-related deaths also increasing. Nearly one in ten overdose deaths occurred among people aged 0–29, highlighting the urgent need for support for young people.
In total, 66,636 years of potential life were lost in 2023 due to drug-induced deaths. This is a harrowing figure that reflects just how potent this crisis is.
The findings of the Penington Institute report reinforce the importance of continuing to support those living with addiction and expanding access to life saving services. On World Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those we have lost and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that young people have access to evidence based treatment and the chance to create brighter futures.
If you would like to read the full report you can do so here.
