Help is Free. Call (08) 9416 4444

Overdose Awareness: Signs, Risks, and How to Respond

At Holyoake, we remember and grieve for the people who have died from overdose. We also acknowledge the anguish and grief of families and friends who have lost someone because of an overdose. We recognise that drug overdose is a tragedy that affects everyone, not just the person using drugs.

The annual International Overdose Awareness Day will be held on August 31, 2025. This annual campaign endeavours to raise community awareness to end overdose. It asks everyone, whether you use or don’t use drugs, to come together to support those profoundly affected and devastated by the tragedy of drug and alcohol overdose.

The theme for the 2025 International Overdose Awareness Day this year is “One Big Family” and the day provides an opportunity to get involved and raise community awareness about the prevention of overdose, and to end the shame and stigma around overdose.

What is an Overdose?

An overdose happens when a person ingests more of a drug, or a combination of drugs, than their body can handle.

Taking several drugs at once increases overdose risk. Most accidental overdose deaths happen when several drugs (including alcohol) have been taken (Penington Institute Annual Overdose Report, 2024).

Not all overdoses lead to death – but even a non-fatal overdose of drugs can have significant psychological and physical health impacts on a person, including brain damage and damage to other vital organs.

Australia’s Overdose Rate

This year marks the 10th consecutive year in which Australia has recorded more than 2000 overdose deaths. For people aged 20-49, overdose was one of the top three leading causes of death. Many of these deaths are preventable.

In 2021, there were 2,231 drug-induced deaths. In 2023 this number had increased to 2272 (Penington Institute, 2025). The Penington Institute’s 2025 Overdose Snapshot is based on their analysis of preliminary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Each month, just under 200 Australians are dying from drug overdoses.

Intentional Overdose

Intentional drug overdoses have a devastating impact on families, with 469 deaths in 2021. In rural and regional areas, the rate of intentional drug-induced deaths has increased and is now higher than in cities.

Unintentional Overdose

Since 2014, more Australians have died from unintentional overdoses than from car accidents.

The highest increases in fatal overdoses are among older Australians, with people over 60 accounting for almost 40% of these deaths in 2021.

Overdose takes a significant toll on First Nations peoples. They experience high risk of overdose of drugs. In 2021, First Nations peoples were more than three times as likely to die from an unintentional overdose than non-Indigenous Australians.

People living in rural areas, those from low-income backgrounds, and men are also more likely to die from unintentional overdoses.

What Types of Drugs are More Likely to be Involved in Unintentional Overdose Deaths?

In 2021, the types of drugs most often involved in unintentional drug-induced deaths included:

More than three-quarters (77.8%) or 1768 of all drug-induced deaths in 2023 were unintentional. Opioids contributed to almost half of all unintentional drug-induced deaths. These deaths are preventable.

Non-Fatal Overdose Impacts Australians

Not all overdoses are deadly. Even so, non-fatal drug and alcohol-related harm are devastating and impact Australians and our health system.

In 2020-21, there were 151,797 drug and alcohol-related hospitalisations in Australia. This is about 415 cases each day.

Overdose Prevention and Holyoake

Overdose is complex and requires a range of responses. Holyoake overdose prevention programs include strategies and actions taken before, during, and after an acute overdose.

Overdose prevention includes:

  • Taking steps to reduce the risk of overdose in the first place
  • Facilitating access to opioid overdose reversal medications (e.g., Naloxone, a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose)
  • Referring the person to services and supports after a non-fatal overdose, and
  • Provision of pharmacotherapies, such as Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Methadone.

Holyoake provides a range of overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies including peer-based support, group work programs, family work, psycho-social education, brief interventions as well as more intensive counselling, suicide and overdose prevention, and integrated support.

Our harm minimisation approach considers the health, social and economic consequences of drug use and overdose on individuals, families and communities.

 

Knowing how to respond to an overdose can save someone’s life. Holyoake recognises that overdose deaths are complex and involve a multitude of factors.

We provide a number of prevention and treatment programs for individuals using alcohol and other drugs as well as their families and communities. These include:

Together, we can reduce the harm caused by overdose and support individuals, families, and communities on their path to recovery.

 

FAQs About Drug Overdose

These include agitation, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, sweating, confusion, and seizures. Stimulants such as methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine can cause these dangerous effects.

Always call triple zero (000) immediately and request an ambulance if you suspect a drug overdose has occurred.

Depending on the drug, an overdose can cause slowed breathing, unconsciousness, seizures, or organ failure. Some overdoses are fatal if not treated quickly.

Always call triple zero (000) immediately and request an ambulance. Ambulances are there to help and can provide more instructions. Do not try to manage a drug overdose at home. While waiting for emergency help:

  • Place the person on their side in the recovery position.
  • Administer Naloxone if it is an opioid overdose and available.
  • Check if anyone nearby knows CPR, in case they’re not breathing or they stop breathing.
  • Stay with the person until help arrives.
  • Tell the ambulance officers anything you know, like the type of drug, how much the person took, how long ago, whether they had been drinking or mixed with other drugs, and if they have any pre-existing medical conditions.
  • It can also be helpful to provide ambulance officers with any packaging that may have held the drug.

Naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, restoring breathing. It is not effective for overdoses involving other substances such as benzodiazepines or alcohol.

Yes. Stimulants, some prescription medications, and alcohol withdrawal-related overdoses can trigger seizures, which may cause further complications or brain injury.

Drug overdose and seizures are a dangerous combination, often requiring urgent medical attention. If someone is experiencing a seizure due to overdose, call triple zero (000) immediately and keep them safe from injury until help arrives.

You can find practical steps to reduce harm, manage emergencies, and lower the risk of overdose through the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s overdose and drug emergencies guide.

The SAMHSA Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit provides clear guidance on recognising overdose, responding effectively, and using medications like Naloxone.

References

You might also be interested in