Accidental drug overdose deaths have risen 41 per cent in the Hunter region in a decade, new research shows.
Figures released in Australia's Annual Overdose Report 2019 show "unintentional overdose deaths" rose in the Hunter from 139 in the years 2003 to 2007 to 196 in the years 2013 to 2017.
Maitland, west Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Newcastle were the Hunter's worst hit areas, with rises of 183 per cent, 100 per cent, 83 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.
Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said Australia was in the midst of an "overdose crisis" and NSW was "by no means immune".
Deaths in regional NSW involving benzodiazepines, pharmaceutical opioids and stimulants such as ice [also known as methamphetamine] were "almost double those of Sydney in recent years".
"We used to experience similar numbers of deaths on our roads," Mr Ryan said.
"Australians said enough is enough and we've brought that number down. But we haven't been able to summon the same kind of energy or investment to save the lives of the Australians who overdose on drugs."
Dr Stephen McNally, deputy chief of Penington Institute, said unintentional overdose deaths were "not skewed as heavily toward lower socioeconomic areas, as other public health issues like smoking or obesity".
Australians from "all walks of life" were affected.
Dr McNally said the situation in regional Australia should "greatly concern us".
"As recently as the beginning of the decade, Australians in rural and regional areas faced the same risk as Australians living in metro areas," he said.
"Today, the rate of unintentional overdose deaths is significantly higher in rural and regional areas. It's yet another echo of the American opioid crisis, right here in our own backyard."
The report said opioids (pharmaceuticals and heroin) were the main drug linked with unintentional drug-induced deaths across Australia.
Mr Ryan said deaths involving pharmaceutical opioids comprise the largest proportion of deaths involving opioids. However, deaths involving heroin had been rising since 2012.
Benzodiazepines were the second most common group of drugs in unintentional drug-induced deaths.
There was a "sharp rise in deaths involving stimulants (including methamphetamine) since 2012".
Up until recently, alcohol was the third most common drug involved in unintentional drug-induced deaths, but it has recently been surpassed by stimulants. When used with other drugs, alcohol may contribute to a fatal overdose. However, alcohol was rarely the sole cause of death, the report said.
