Retrospective study identifies rising poisoning deaths in Australia from novel benzodiazepines and associated factors.
Key Points
This research examines the characteristics and toxicology of fatal novel benzodiazepine-related poisoning in Australia from 2000 to 2025, with a focus on changes after 2020.
Retrospective analysis of fatal novel benzodiazepine poisoning cases from the National Coronial Information System.
Identification of 258 cases of NBZD toxicity from 2013 to 2025.
Comparison of demographic and toxicological factors between cases before and after 2020.
Comparative analysis revealed an increase in cases from 33 (2013-2019) to 225 (2020-2025).
2020 s cases showed significantly higher histories of injecting drug use (52% vs. 21%) and mental health problems (55% vs. 30%).
Fifteen different novel benzodiazepines were detected, with nine unique to the 2020s, including etizolam and bromazolam.
Increased prevalence of cases with multiple novel benzodiazepines detected (39.6% vs. 12.1%) in the 2020s.