Advancing global knowledge of the drivers of fatal and non-fatal overdose

Open to students

The nature of drug overdose is evolving in relation to changes in drug markets and consumer characteristics, including the emergence of more highly potent forms of substances such as illicit fentanyl. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted drug markets in Australia. Work investigating non-fatal and fatal overdose among people who use drugs in Australia is important within the context of changing drug markets.

Objective

To increase our understanding of the drivers of non-fatal and fatal overdose and how these change with evolving drug markets.

Timeline

2020–2025.

Approach

Analysis of non-fatal overdose data from the two supervised injecting facilities in Australia, the Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney and the Medically Supervised Injecting Room in Melbourne; Analysis of national mortality data (the National Coronial Information System) in Australia; and analysis of jurisdictional mortality data linked to administrative health data.

Community impact

This program of work will produce critical data to inform responses (e.g. opioid substitution therapy – OST, THN, SIFs, overdose awareness education and screening for overdose risk) to overdose. It will make a significant contribution across a broad range of areas including; primary health care services, clinical practice, public health and related policy, community medicine and consumer populations. This work is timely in relation to changes occurring locally and internationally in drug markets to inform overdose responses (e.g. increasing availability of THN and the expansion of SIFs).

Student opportunities

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Emerging trends in drug-related deaths in Australia

Illicit drug markets in Australia are changing, with new trends emerging in drug-related harms including deaths. Due to the constraints of the coding system (ICD-10AM) used to identify which drugs are involved in deaths, data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not cover some of the newer and emerging substances such as nitazenes and illicitly manufactured benzodiazepines.

The National Coronial Information System, an online database of deaths that are reportable to the coroner, contains comprehensive reports of the circumstances of drug-related deaths, enabling the capture of these drugs not covered in ICD-10AM.

The objective of this research is to characterise the circumstances of deaths where new and emerging drugs are involved. Selection of which drug/s will be the focus of this project will be determined between the student and the supervisors. Students will gain skills in quantitative data analysis.