This bulletin provides interpretation of (1) final data on accidental drug-induced deaths in which methamphetamine and cocaine were mentioned in Australia in 2011, and (2) estimated data for 2012 and 2013. (The data for 2012 and 2013 are not final and are likely to change. We have estimated figures for 2012 and 2013 based on changes that occurred in the 2010 and 2011 revisions. We have not interpreted these figures in any detail. This will be the subject of later bulletins.)

The data in this bulletin refer to deaths where methamphetamine and cocaine were (1) determined to be the underlying cause of death – that is, that they were the primary factor responsible for the person’s death; or (2) noted, but another drug was thought to be primarily responsible for death. Deaths are coded according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10).

The data presented here refer to deaths that were attributed to the following :

Accidental deaths due to poisoning by cocaine or methamphetamine (and no other drug from same category was mentioned);
Accidental deaths due to cocaine or methamphetamine use (usually dependence); and
Accidental drug-induced deaths where cocaine or methamphetamine was mentioned.