One person has died every fortnight in the ACT due to an unintentional drug overdose, alarming new figures have revealed.
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A report by the Penington Institute, released on Monday, found there were 120 unintentional deaths in Canberra recorded between 2014 and 2018.
That figure makes up 71 per cent of all overdose deaths in the nation's capital during the five-year period.
In 2018 alone, 27 Canberrans died due to an unintentional overdose, an almost record high for a single year.
Experts have said the figures constitute a wake-up call for governments and health officials in order to reduce the number of overdose deaths.
Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said better solutions were needed to address the growing issue.
"The death toll shows none of our politicians are taking this issue seriously enough," Mr Ryan said.
"It's proof that our leaders need to do more."
The report showed on a national level 2070 overdose deaths were recorded in 2018, of those 1556 were unintentional.
By comparison, in the same year, the national road toll was 1220.
According to the report, the rate of unintentional overdose deaths in Australia is rising by 3 per cent each year, based on the trends of previous years.
If the trend continues, there will be an additional 330 drug-induced deaths by 2023.
"I think the saddest thing is it affects people from all walks of life," Mr Ryan said.
"It's not a poor or rich-person's problem, it is spread out across the community.
Those aged between 40 and 49 were more likely to die due to an unintentional overdose, making up one-third of all cases, while fewer than one-in-ten deaths were among those under 30.
Men were three times as likely as women to have an unintentional overdose death, which accounted for more than 70 per cent of cases in 2018.
Mr Ryan said one of the more concerning findings of the report was the increase of overdose deaths in the ACT linked to benzodiazepines, which are commonly used to help people sleep.
While the drugs were linked to fewer than five overdose deaths in Canberra between 2004 and 2008, during the five-year period between 2013 and 2018, that number increased 32.
Unintentional overdoses linked to stimulants such as ice increased from seven between 2004 and 2008 to 36 between 2014 and 2018.
Mr Ryan said in a large number of overdose deaths, more than one drug was recorded.
"Most of drugs used in overdoses in Australia are a combination of prescription drugs and illicit drugs are in there as well," Mr Ryan said.
"It is not a black-and-white problem. The health sector needs to step up to the plate in relation to this and take leadership in relation to overdose problems."
Mr Ryan said part of the issue surrounded the stigma in discussing overdoses.
"Sadly, we don't talk about drug use openly and honestly," he said.
"The sad consequences of overdose deaths is the loss of that person, but also the ripple effect it has on partners and families and the broader community."
The report found opioids were the most commonly identified drug group that was linked to unintentional overdose deaths.
In the past 12 years alone, opioid overdose deaths have nearly tripled, rising from 338 nationally in 2006 to 900 in 2018.
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Meanwhile, overdose deaths involving heroin have risen by more than 100 per cent since 2013.
Mr Ryan said overdose deaths remained a hidden health crisis in Australia.
"There is no silver bullet, but we can see there are opportunities to ramp up our focus," he said.
"We want to make sure the community understands the scale of the issue."
The report was released to coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day.