Australia recorded its highest number of drug-induced deaths in 2024, according to Penington Institute’s Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026.

The report recorded 2,596 drug-induced deaths across Australia during the year. Of these, 2,091 were unintentional.

Behind these numbers are people, families and communities. The findings also raise an important question: how can young people experiencing alcohol and drug challenges access appropriate support before those challenges become more serious?

For Martin Youth Foundation, this matters because young people can have needs that differ from those of older adults. Treatment and recovery pathways need to recognise the whole person, including their health, relationships, housing, education, employment, and future goals.

What Does Australia’s Latest Overdose Data Tell Us?

Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026 highlights the continuing impact of drug-induced deaths across Australia. It shows a long-term increase in unintentional drug-induced deaths and continuing concerns about access to appropriate interventions and care.

Penington Institute reports that more than 47,000 drug-induced deaths have occurred in Australia since 2000. While Australia’s population increased by 41% between 2001 and 2024, the number of unintentional drug-induced deaths increased by 113%.

It is important to distinguish between the terms used in the report. ‘Drug-induced deaths’ includes unintentional deaths as well as deaths determined to be suicide, homicide or of undetermined intent. The report’s analysis focuses particularly on unintentional drug-induced deaths.

The data also shows that drug-related harm is not limited to a single substance. In the five years to 2024, more than two-thirds of unintentional drug-induced deaths involved two or more drug types.

These patterns show why responses need to recognise different circumstances and needs rather than assume there is one typical experience of drug-related harm.

Why Does the Report Matter for Young People?

One of the report’s findings is particularly relevant when thinking about younger Australians.

In 2024, unintentional drug-induced deaths were the third-leading cause of death for both men and women aged 20-29.

That age group does not represent all young people supported through the work of Martin Youth Foundation. The Foundation generally speaks about young people aged 12-24, while individual programs have their own eligibility criteria.

It reinforces why age and life stage need to be considered when thinking about alcohol and drug treatment. A young person may be navigating education, entering employment, developing relationships or trying to establish stable housing at the same time as seeking help.

These parts of life do not sit separately from recovery. The Foundation’s current approach recognises that recovery can include rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with family and community, finding secure housing, participating in education or employment and working towards greater independence.

Overdose is an Australian Issue

The report also challenges the idea that overdose belongs to one particular group of people.

“The lesson is not that overdose is a problem confined to certain communities, but rather the opposite – overdose is an Australian problem.”
John Ryan OAM, CEO, Penington Institute

The report identifies differences across age groups, locations and communities, but its broader message is that drug-related harm reaches across Australian society.

Penington Institute also calls for greater coordination between governments and a response that keeps pace with changing patterns of drug-related harm.

For young people and families, the report also highlights access to help.

Access to Support Can Make a Difference

Penington Institute notes that access to established interventions remains uneven and that barriers continue to prevent some people from accessing potentially life-saving help.

Whether a service exists is only part of the question.

Young people may need to know where to seek help, what types of care are available, and what happens after treatment. Depending on their circumstances, care may also need to consider mental health, family relationships, housing, education or employment.

There is no single pathway that will be right for every young person. What matters is creating opportunities to access appropriate care and take steps towards change.

This is where youth-focused treatment has an important role.

Why Youth-focused Treatment Matters

Young people are not simply younger versions of adult treatment clients.

Their developmental stage and circumstances can influence what constitutes appropriate care. Youth-focused treatment can take account of factors such as:

• family and social relationships
• education and employment
• housing and practical stability
• mental health
• life skills and community connections
• personal goals for the future

This broader view matters because recovery is about more than whether someone is currently using alcohol or drugs. Martin Youth Foundation’s guidance recognises recovery as an ongoing journey and young people as active participants in shaping their own futures.

How Does Triple Care Farm Support Young People?

Triple Care Farm is a youth-specific alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation centre owned and operated by Mission Australia. Martin Youth Foundation is its major philanthropic funder and has partnered with the program for more than 35 years.

Triple Care Farm supports young people aged 16-24 through a continuum that includes residential withdrawal at David Martin Place, residential rehabilitation and structured aftercare.

The approach recognises that addressing alcohol and drug dependence is only one part of a young person’s life. Treatment can also create space to work on practical skills, relationships, routines and plans for what comes next.

Importantly, the young person remains at the centre of that process. The role of treatment and care is to create opportunities, not to take ownership of the person’s recovery.

Recovery Does Not End When Residential Treatment Ends

Moving on from residential treatment can bring another set of challenges.

A young person may be returning to family or community life while also considering housing, employment, education, mental health, and relationships. Continuing care can help them work through these changes and maintain their recovery goals.

Youth Network is one example. It is a six-month structured aftercare program delivered by Mission Australia across four locations in NSW and Western Australia, with funding from Martin Youth Foundation. It supports young people aged 12-25 as they return to community life following residential treatment.

Aftercare recognises that recovery continues beyond residential treatment, while allowing for different pathways and circumstances.

Helping Young People find the Right Support

The findings in Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2026 are serious, but statistics alone cannot tell us what any individual young person needs.

Martin Youth Foundation is a philanthropic funder of youth-focused alcohol and drug treatment and recovery programs. It does not directly provide treatment. Its role is to fund care and programs that give young people opportunities to work towards recovery and their future. Learn more about the programs funded by Martin Youth Foundation.

Young people, families and carers looking for information can use Martin Youth Foundation’s Find help and Useful resources pages to explore available services and learn more about the programs the Foundation funds.

The report helps show the scale of drug-related harm in Australia. The practical next step is to make appropriate support easier to find while recognising the strengths, goals and potential of young people seeking it.