Twenty-year trends in pharmaceutical fentanyl and illicit fentanyl deaths, Australia 2001–2021

Original research
by
Roxburgh, Amanda & Suzanne Nielsen

Release Date

2022

Geography

Australia

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

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).

Keywords

Mortality
Illegal drugs