poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
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Aus - Drugs a bigger killer than cars
More Australians are dying from drug overdoses than are being killed in road accidents, new figures show.
Health groups have called the problem a ''silent epidemic'' and urged governments to act. They say prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, are increasingly being abused, leading to a spike in accidental overdoses.
Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data by drug harm-minimisation group Anex has found that in all age groups, except for 15- to 24-year-olds, overdose deaths outstrip vehicle accident fatalities.
The fresh analysis comes after Fairfax Media revealed on Saturday Australians are splurging more than $7 billion a year on illicit drugs - $2 billion more than spent on fashion.
In 2011, 241 drug overdose deaths among 25- to 34-year-olds, compared with 110 on the roads, were recorded.
In the 35- to 44-year-old group, 234 people lost their lives to drugs, while 82 died in car accidents. Among 45- to 54-year-olds, 75 were killed on the roads in cars, compared with 211 through overdoses.
Anex chief executive John Ryan said prescription drug abuse was a growing problem and many people were becoming addicted after using medication to treat pain.
Often deaths occurred accidentally when people doubled their daily dose or combined pills with alcohol.
''This is affecting people from all walks of life,'' Mr Ryan said. ''It's not just the cliched drug user on the street. It's very much a general problem in suburbia, in regional and rural areas and right across the age demographic.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/heal...r-than-cars-20130622-2op6d.html#ixzz2X6oPLTOH
More Australians are dying from drug overdoses than are being killed in road accidents, new figures show.
Health groups have called the problem a ''silent epidemic'' and urged governments to act. They say prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, are increasingly being abused, leading to a spike in accidental overdoses.
Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data by drug harm-minimisation group Anex has found that in all age groups, except for 15- to 24-year-olds, overdose deaths outstrip vehicle accident fatalities.
The fresh analysis comes after Fairfax Media revealed on Saturday Australians are splurging more than $7 billion a year on illicit drugs - $2 billion more than spent on fashion.
In 2011, 241 drug overdose deaths among 25- to 34-year-olds, compared with 110 on the roads, were recorded.
In the 35- to 44-year-old group, 234 people lost their lives to drugs, while 82 died in car accidents. Among 45- to 54-year-olds, 75 were killed on the roads in cars, compared with 211 through overdoses.
Anex chief executive John Ryan said prescription drug abuse was a growing problem and many people were becoming addicted after using medication to treat pain.
Often deaths occurred accidentally when people doubled their daily dose or combined pills with alcohol.
''This is affecting people from all walks of life,'' Mr Ryan said. ''It's not just the cliched drug user on the street. It's very much a general problem in suburbia, in regional and rural areas and right across the age demographic.''
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/heal...r-than-cars-20130622-2op6d.html#ixzz2X6oPLTOH
