This sheet summarises current data on drug-related overdose deaths in Australia and Victoria. It aims to help patients and families understand the scale of the issue, the drugs most commonly involved, and what can be done to reduce risk. Statistics are updated annually from the Penington Institute Annual Overdose Report.
The scale of the problem
In 2024, 584 Victorians died from drug overdose — a 10-year high. Nationally, unintentional drug-induced deaths continue to exceed road trauma deaths, yet overdose receives a fraction of the public attention and road-safety-style prevention investment. Almost 75% of Victorian overdose deaths were accidental, meaning they were not the result of intentional self-harm.
Which drugs are most commonly involved?
The five drugs most frequently implicated in Victorian overdose deaths in 2024 were:
- Heroin — 248 deaths
- Diazepam — 219 deaths
- Methamphetamine — 215 deaths
- Alcohol — 141 deaths
- Pregabalin — 92 deaths
Prescribed medications — particularly opioids and benzodiazepines — feature prominently in these figures. This highlights the importance of safe prescribing, regular medication review, and open conversation between patients and their prescribers about risk.
Who is at risk?
Anyone taking opioids, benzodiazepines, or other sedating medications carries some level of risk, particularly when these are combined. Risk is significantly higher when:
- Multiple sedating substances are used together (e.g. opioids with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or pregabalin)
- Tolerance is reduced — for example after a period of abstinence, hospital discharge, or dose reduction
- Medications are not stored securely, increasing access by others
- Use is unsupervised or occurs in isolation
An important point about tolerance: After a period without opioids — including a hospital admission, a period of abstinence, or a dose reduction — the body's tolerance drops significantly. Returning to a previous dose can be fatal. This is one of the most common circumstances in which fatal overdose occurs.
Recognising an overdose
If you are with someone who may have overdosed, look for these signs:
- Unresponsive or cannot be woken
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Blue or grey lips or fingertips
- Gurgling or snoring sounds
- Limp body
- Pinpoint (very small) pupils
If you see these signs — call 000 immediately. Do not leave the person alone.
What to do
- Call 000 — tell the operator you think someone has overdosed.
- Place the person in the recovery position if they are breathing — on their side, with their airway open.
- Administer naloxone if available and the overdose involves opioids — naloxone (Nyxoid® nasal spray) is available without a prescription from many Australian pharmacies. Follow the instructions on the pack.
- Stay until the ambulance arrives — do not leave the person alone.
Victoria's Good Samaritan law: Under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic), s.27AA, people who call 000 in good faith at an overdose are protected from prosecution for personal drug possession or use. You will not get in trouble for calling for help.
Naloxone — the opioid antidote
Naloxone (Nyxoid®) is a fast-acting medication that reverses opioid overdose. It works within minutes, is safe to use, and cannot cause harm if opioids are not involved.
Naloxone is now available over the counter at most Australian pharmacies without a prescription. If you or someone close to you is prescribed opioids, consider keeping naloxone at home and ensuring those around you know how to use it.
Speak with Dr Kenchaiah or your pharmacist for more information about obtaining and using naloxone.
Prevention and harm reduction
- Never mix opioids or benzodiazepines with alcohol or other sedating drugs.
- Store medications securely and in original packaging, away from children and others.
- Take medications exactly as prescribed; do not increase doses without medical guidance.
- Return unused or expired medications to a pharmacy via the RUM Program (Return Unwanted Medicines).
- If dependence is a concern, early discussion with your doctor leads to better outcomes — there is no benefit in waiting.
This sheet uses the most recently available data. Statistics are sourced from the Penington Institute Annual Overdose Report 2025. If a newer report has been published, this sheet may be updated — check the Penington Institute website for the latest figures:
penington.org.au
Statistics sourced from: Penington Institute. Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2025. Available at penington.org.au. Data on Victorian deaths from the Coroners Court of Victoria. Good Samaritan provisions: Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic), s.27AA.