Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
This paper investigates 20-year trends in fentanyl deaths in Australia, distinguishing between deaths attributable to pharmaceutical, and to illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.
Findings/Key points
Pharmaceutical fentanyl deaths in Australia have declined since 2015, in parallel with overall declines in pharmaceutical opioids (including fentanyl) dispensed since 2014. Deaths continue to occur among people with a history of injecting drug use and drug dependence. Deaths attributable to illicit fentanyl have emerged since 2013 but remain low in comparison to pharmaceutical fentanyl deaths.
Design/methods
Data from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS).