How many Australians die each year from cocaine use?
In 2023, there were 96 overdose deaths in Australia which involved cocaine, of which the majority (84%) occurred among men. Most of these deaths (89%) were unintentional.
The vast majority of drug-induced deaths are due to overdose, however a small number of cocaine-related deaths unrelated to overdose may be excluded from the above figure.
Source: Chrzanowska A, Man N, Akhurst J, Sutherland R, Degenhardt L, Peacock A. Trends in overdose and other drug-induced deaths in Australia, 2004-2023. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney; 2025.