Fast Facts

#5

Deaths from drug overdose in England and Wales have fallen in recent years. The Office of National Statistics recorded 2,747 drug poisoning deaths in 2010, a 5 per cent decrease from 2009.

The Victorian Coroners Court recorded 338 drug-related deaths in 2010. Prescription medicines alone were responsible for 40 % of the deaths, the second largest group was prescription medicines mixed with illicit drugs (20.4 %) while illicit drugs alone were responsible for 14.8 %

#7

Thousands of Australians are hospitalized each year for drug overdoses and many are children. In 2005-06 there were 6,623 Australians admitted to hospital over non-fatal drug overdoses and 20 percent of these were children aged 0-4years old.

#8

Powerful painkillers are being prescribed to Australians at increasing rates. In the decade and a half until 2007 prescriptions for opioid painkillers rose threefold to 7 million a year. Over the same period the number of strong painkillers available has risen from 11 in 1992 to 70 in 2007.

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International Overdose Awareness Day Event Registration

Please complete details of the event being held for posting on the International Overdose Awareness Day Web Site in the space provided below.

or via facsimile on (+61 3) 9486 7844 – these will be listed on the web site as soon possible.

#5

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#7

#8

#9

#3

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#6

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