COVID-19 and drug overdoses: Synthetic drug deaths spike, heroin deaths fall during pandemic

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The number of overdose deaths related to dangerous synthetic drugs which mimic the effects of “classic” illegal substances spiked dramatically in Victoria last year, while deaths involving cocaine and MDMA reached a 10-year high.
Heroin-related deaths, however, fell to the lowest number since 2015, as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the drug market and availability changed patterns of consumption, while pharmaceuticals remained the most frequent contributor to overdose deaths.
New drug overdose death statistics released by the Coroners Court of Victoria on Thursday revealed there were 526 overdose deaths in the state last year, an increase of 10 from the year before.

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