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drug_deaths

Death numbers by Drugs in Australia

Information obtained by questioning Google Gemini:

What's the latest statistics on people that die from illicit drugs as opposed to a prescription drugs

Unfortunately, tracking exact numbers on illicit drug deaths vs. prescription drug deaths is complex. Here's why:

  1. Mixing of substances: Many drug-induced deaths involve multiple substances, making it hard to pinpoint the culprit.
  2. Illicit use of prescription drugs: Sometimes, people misuse prescription drugs, blurring the lines between legal and illegal use.

However, some general trends exist:

  1. Deaths are on the rise for both: In recent years, both illicit and prescription drug overdose deaths have been on the rise, particularly opioid-related ones.
  2. Prescription drugs might lead the pack: Some studies suggest deaths from prescription drugs, especially opioids, may outnumber those from illicit drugs (though this can vary by region). For instance, data from Australia shows a higher percentage of drug-induced deaths involving prescription drugs compared to illicit ones [aihw gov au].

Here are some resources to explore for the latest statistics:

  1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): [National Institute on Drug Abuse (.gov)] provides data on drug use and overdose deaths in the United States.
  2. World Health Organization (WHO): [World Health Organization who int] has resources on global drug use and its consequences.
  3. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS): [abs gov au] provides data on drug-induced deaths in Australia, including breakdowns by substance type.

Remember, these are just resources to get you started. Be sure to check the date of publication, as drug overdose statistics are constantly evolving. profile picture.

I'm after specific figures and only for Australia

Latest Drug-Induced Death Statistics in Australia (2022)

Obtaining a clear-cut figure on illicit drug deaths vs. prescription drug deaths in Australia is difficult due to the reasons mentioned previously. However, we can look at the overall picture and some breakdowns:

  1. Total Drug-Induced Deaths: In 2022, there were an estimated 1,693 drug-induced deaths in Australia [aihw gov au].

Types of Drugs Involved:

  1. Benzodiazepines: These prescription medications were the leading contributor, with 703 deaths ([aihw gov au]).
  2. Uncertain: Many deaths involve multiple substances, making it hard to pinpoint the specific drug responsible.

Additional Resources:

  1. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) offers the most recent data on drug-induced deaths in Australia, including breakdowns by remoteness and drug type: aihw gov au: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/summary.

If the deaths via prescription drugs how many were accidental

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the most recent data available (as of April 24, 2024) indicates:

  1. Over two-thirds (69%) of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2022 were considered accidental (1,175 deaths) [aihw gov au].

While the data doesn't separate prescription drugs from illicit drugs specifically, it provides a strong indication that a significant portion of drug-induced deaths in Australia are accidental.

drug_deaths.txt · Last modified: 2024/04/24 07:25 by geoff