Opioid harm in Australia: Comparisons between Australia and Canada

On the 9th of November the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released a report entitled “Opioid harm in Australia: and comparisons between Australia and Canada”. The report collates data from a range of sources which encapsulates the current national data and trends in relation to Australians opioid use. The report also draws on data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, allowing us to make some comparisons between emergency department presentations and hospitalisation in Canada and Australia.  

A summary of some of the findings from Australia include:

• Pharmaceutical opioids were more likely than heroin to be involved in opioid deaths and opioid hospitalisations.
• Between 2007–08 and 2016–17, there was a 25% rise in the rate of hospitalisations due to opioid poisoning.
• The rate of opioid deaths rose by 62% from 2007 to 2016.
• In 2016–17 there were 5,112 ED presentations and 9,636 hospitalisations due to opioid poisoning.
  
  To read the full report click here "Opioid harm in Australia: and comparisons between Australia and Canada"