Codeine-related deaths

Codeine-related deaths

Drug addiction Mental health

Almost half of codeine-related deaths in Australia from 2000 to 2013 are attributable to accidental overdose, say researchers. Deaths related to codeine, which soon could be available only on prescription, more than doubled in Australia between 2000 and 2009.

There was a jump from 3.5 to 8.7 per million population, with a 9.3 per cent rise each year, say researchers who found the increase mainly driven by accidental deaths. Almost half were attributed to accidental overdose and a third to intentional self-harm, with education about the dangers of taking too much codeine needed. The study was published in the Medical Journal of Australia in early October.

Trends and characteristics of accidental and intentional codeine overdose deaths in Australia; Amanda Roxburgh, Wayne D Hall, Lucinda Burns, Jennifer Pilgrim, Eva Saar, Suzanne Nielsen and Louisa Degenhardt. Med J Aust 2015; 203 (7): 299

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2013-14

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2013-14

Alcohol Drug addiction

This report, published recently by the AIHW indicates that around 119,000 clients in 2013-2014 were estimated to have received over 180,700 treatment episodes from 795 publicly funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies. Alcohol was the most common drug needing treatment for people aged over 30, and cannabis was the most common for those aged under 30.  Counselling was the most common form of treatment sought.

The report gives details on the agencies available, the drugs of concern and the types of treatment provided and compares the data to previous years. For example, since 2009-10, there has been an increase in use of amphetamines (from 7% to 17%) and an increase in smoking/inhaling as the method of administration for amphetamines.

National opioid pharmacotherapy statistics 2014

National opioid pharmacotherapy statistics 2014

Drug addiction Drug therapy Pain

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released the National opiod pharmacotherapy statistics for 2014.  Dependence on opioid drugs is associated with a range of health and social problems and this bulletin presents information on the clients receiving opioid pharmacotherapy treatment, the doctors prescribing these drugs, and the dosing points that clients attend to receive their medication.

On a snapshot day in 2014, over 48,000 clients received pharmacotherapy treatment for their opioid dependence at 2,432 dosing points around Australia. As in previous year, methadone was the most common pharmacotherapy drug, with around two-thirds (67%) of clients treated with this drug. There were 2,319 prescribers of opioid pharmacotherapy drugs, an increase of 15% from 2013.

Global Drug Survey 2015

Global Drug Survey 2015

Alcohol Drug addiction Smoking

The Global Drug Survey (an independent research organisation) each year attracts more than 100,000
online responses from individuals around the world about their drug use. The study looks at prevalence, price, purity, value for money and the proportion of people seeking medical treatment. The 2015 survey specifically focussed on:

• The dark net - with the closure of Silk Road, how are people buying drugs online?
• Nitrous oxide - the risks of neurological harm from this drug
• E-cigarettes - whether these might be used for something other than nicotine
• Performance enhancing drugs - weight loss agents and anabolic steroids
• Cognitive enhancers - Ritalin, modafanil and atomoxetine use among students and working people.

Synthetic drugs in South-East Asia and Oceania

Synthetic drugs in South-East Asia and Oceania

Drug addiction Global health

The challenge of synthetic drugs in East and South-East Asia and Oceania : Trends and patterns of amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances 2015 has been published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The authors warn of the increase in demand for synthetic drugs in the region, as well as opportunities for transnational criminal groups to expand the illicit drug trade.

The report looks at the trends and developments in the market for both amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS), It also looks at the challenges for governments in their efforts to respond to the threat.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Organisations report

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Organisations report

Alcohol Drug addiction Indigenous health Primary Health

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a new report today titled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations: Online Services Report - key results 2013-14.

The report includes details on:

• 203 organisations provided primary health-care services to around 419,000 clients through 4.6 million client contacts
• 189 counsellors provided social and emotional wellbeing or Link Up counselling services to around 16,600 clients through 88,200 client contacts
• 56 organisations provided substance-use rehabilitation and treatment services to around 43,000 clients through 371,000 episodes of care.    

Download the full report for free online. 

Client-based Analyses for Reporting on Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services

Client-based Analyses for Reporting on Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services

Alcohol Drug addiction

Developing client based analysis for reporting on alcohol and other drug treatment services outlines the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) intended analysis techniques to:- estimate the number and rate of clients receiving alcohol and other drug treatment - explore patterns of drug use and pathways through treatment - explore the characteristics of different client groups, for example, those who return to treatment over many years with multiple drugs of concern or treatment types. Some analyses described either require, or would be improved by, future data development activities for this collection. Public consultation is open until 28 February 2014. (AIHW released 9th December 2013)