The WA government is unable to provide data on drug overdoses in public hospital emergency departments due to limitations in the data collection system. The question sought a breakdown of overdose presentations by drug type, admission rates, and fatalities.

AnsweredQoN 486Legislative Council
Asked
21 August 2025
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

(1) For each financial year since 2021–22, how many presentations to public hospital emergency departments, broken down by facility, in Western Australia were due to: (a) drug overdoses (by type of drug where recorded, e.g. methamphetamine, opioids, prescription medications, alcohol, polysubstance); and (b) suspected drug overdoses where toxicology was inconclusive? (2) For the same period in (1), how many of those overdose presentations resulted in: (a) admission to hospital wards; (b) admission to intensive care units; and (c) fatalities within the hospital setting?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
7 days
(a)-(b)
It is not possible to identify the number of emergency department attendances that were due to drug overdoses or suspected drug overdoses as the data system does not allow for individual subcategories or identification of intent.

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