Australia recorded its deadliest year on record for drug overdoses, according to a new analysis, with an average of seven deaths per day.
In a preview of the Penington Institute’s annual overdose report, there were nearly 2,600 overdose fatalities in 2024.
For the first time ever, people in the 50-59 age group recorded the highest number of unintentional overdose deaths, up from 448 fatalities in 2023 to 533 in 2024.
“The majority of them are men, the majority of them are middle-aged,” Scientia Professor Ritter said.
As the article says. our govt is not investing enough in research, harm reduction and treatment as are needed. The community in general doesn’t want to think about it either. As society becomes more economically and otherwise unstable we will lose increasing numbers to overdoses. Why are middle-aged men the biggest group losing their lives? This must be investigated for their sake and for the sake of families left behind.