Official ABS raw data (released yesterday) suggests that illicit drugs are responsible for far more death, devastation and years of young life lost, than we have been led to believe.  Whilst it is true that not all tobacco and alcohol related deaths are included in the raw data, the enormous and very much under-appreciated scale of the problem is highlighted by these figures which are the major data source for all similar calculations in the country. 

Drug Free Australia’s spokesperson, Dr Stuart Reece said today: “It is our impression that this data is not well understood in the community, with the direct result that the enormous harm related to illicit drug addiction has been under-emphasized over a long period.  This appalling situation demands urgent attention of all political parties and key decision-makers”.

Beginning in 1997, this is the ninth year for which detailed ABS data has been made available, as to the cause of death by drug type. 

Of 12 major causes of death, drugs (including methadone) ranked eighth behind heart attack, stroke, suicide car crash and cancers of the lung, bowel and breast.  According to one tabulation there were 1,076 drug related deaths out of a total of 60,752 in 2005.  This compares with about 500 Australian casualties lost in Vietnam war over the whole campaign. 

This contrasts with only 243 due to direct alcohol toxicity.  There were 103 deaths from HIV/AIDS in 2005.  This data includes 106 deaths in which methadone was found, and 19 in which methadone was found as the sole agent responsible for death (single drug overdose).

In another table ABS describe 1388 drug related deaths.  By far the commonest cause of death was opiates (heroin, morphine, methadone and others) with 518 deaths from this group of drugs.  Opiates were followed by benzodiazepines (249), antidepressants (200), and amphetamines 79.  There were 20 deaths in which cannabis was implicated.

Over the whole period 1997-2005 Drugs (including methadone) accounted for 12,375 deaths, all opiates 6,901, methadone alone 957 (mainly poly-drug) deaths, 250 related to cannabis, and 1,867 related to acute alcohol toxicity and 715 due to amphetamines. 

Over the previous 8 years (1997-2004) drug related deaths have been associated with an average of 42 years of life lost per person.  If this trend is followed in 2005 statistics, this would equate to 519,750 years of life lost due to illicit and addictive drugs.  This accounts directly for the great anguish and tragedy felt in the community when young people die from drugs.