Abstract
By using the local and international literature indices are developed relating the use of particular drugs to a specific proportion of deaths from various causes. These indices are then applied to statistics on cause of death, supplied by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, to estimate the number of drug-related deaths and corresponding death rates per 100 000 population in Australia for each year from 1969 to 1980, with tabulation by age and sex.
Overall there were estimated to be about 19 000 to 20 000 drug-related deaths each year, most associated with tobacco use, about a fifth with alcohol and only about 3% with other drugs.
It appeared that a peak may have been reached for deaths associated with tobacco (1976), alcohol (1977) and other drugs (1978).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
L.R.H. Drew
Both authors formerly Public Health Officers, Eastern Sydney Area Public Health Unit Previously general practitioner, Orange NSW, Australia.