According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), drug-induced deaths are defined as those that can be directly attributable to drug use and includes both those due to acute toxicity (for example, drug overdose) and chronic use (for example, drug-induced cardiac conditions) as determined by toxicology and pathology reports. This classification excludes death solely attributable to alcohol and tobacco.
Drug types are recorded in deaths data as associated causes. As there can be more than one associated cause in a death, multiple drug types may have been reported on a single death record. As a result, the sum of each drug type may be more than the total number of deaths.
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Number of drug-induced deaths Australia 2021, by drug type
In 2021, it was reported that *** people died from any type of opioid-induced death across Australia. In comparison, there were ** deaths related to cannabinoids reported in that same year.
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AIHW. (September 28, 2023). Number of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2021, by drug type [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 04, 2026, from /statistics/1006009/australia-number-of-drug-induced-deaths-by-drug-type/
AIHW. "Number of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2021, by drug type." Chart. September 28, 2023. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 04, 2026. /statistics/1006009/australia-number-of-drug-induced-deaths-by-drug-type/
AIHW. (2023). Number of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2021, by drug type. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 04, 2026. /statistics/1006009/australia-number-of-drug-induced-deaths-by-drug-type/
AIHW. "Number of Drug-induced Deaths in Australia in 2021, by Drug Type." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 28 Sep 2023, /statistics/1006009/australia-number-of-drug-induced-deaths-by-drug-type/
AIHW, Number of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2021, by drug type ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1006009/australia-number-of-drug-induced-deaths-by-drug-type/ (last visited August 04, 2026)
Number of drug-induced deaths in Australia in 2021, by drug type [Graph], AIHW, September 28, 2023. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1006009/australia-number-of-drug-induced-deaths-by-drug-type/
