This bulletin provides interpretation of final data on accidental opioid induced deaths in Australia in 2013, and estimated data for 2014 and 2015.
The majority of opioid overdose deaths in Australia are accidental (defined as being a death where there is no information to suggest the decedent intentionally took their own life). Accordingly, the focus of this bulletin is on deaths that are due to accidental overdose.
Opioid overdose deaths include deaths due to heroin and pharmaceutical opioids such as morphine and oxycodone.