Older Aussies’ fatal drug use
Older Australians are the surprising new victims of an increase in fatal drug overdoses, new figures show. A report by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of NSW finds the largest increases in death rates from accidental opioid overdoses are in the 45 to 54-year-old age group.
Older Australians are the surprising new victims of an increase in fatal drug overdoses, new figures show.
A report by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of NSW finds the largest increases in death rates from accidental opioid overdoses are in the 45 to 54-year-old age group.
The report states older Australians are regularly being prescribed opioids for pain relief and are more likely to take a range of other medications – which can be fatal when mixed.
Report lead author, Amanda Roxburgh, says an ageing population of injecting drug users is part of the story, but the larger proportion is likely to be people prescribed painkillers such as oxycodone.
“As people age they are more likely to be on multiple medications,” Ms Roxburgh says.
She adds the combination of a cocktail of medications, prescription painkillers and underlying health conditions increase the risk of overdose with age.
Overall, the report finds accidental drug overdoses related to opioids including heroin are on the rise with 500 Australian deaths attributed to opioids in 2008, the year from which the most recent coronial figures are available.
The report estimates the numbers for 2009 and 2010 are higher, at 612 and 705 accidental fatal overdoses, respectively.
Preliminary figures show the largest increase occurring among older Australians aged 45 to 54 years, with deaths in that age group rising about 50% since 2008.
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre director, Professor Michael Farrell, says the rising opioid death rates need to be closely monitored – especially among older Australians.
“The Australian population is ageing and they are increasingly likely to be prescribed opioids for pain,” he says.
