Analysis of trends in non-fatal overdose among clients attending the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre, 2001-2024

Non-fatal opioid overdose is one of the most important predictors of fatal overdose. However, it is still poorly understood.

Injecting drug use is associated with high rates of morbidity due to non-fatal overdose, yet data on the circumstances surrounding non-fatal overdose are sparse in Australia.

Health service data from the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) provides an extremely valuable opportunity to gain greater insight into the circumstances surrounding non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs.

The Sydney MSIC collects demographic data, data on drug injected, data on adverse events (including overdose and interventions administered) and the risk factors associated with these events (e.g. use of other substances, lowered tolerance to drug use etc).

The objective of this research is to characterise trends over time in non-fatal overdose among clients attending the MSIC (2001-2024) and to determine risk factors associated with these overdoses to assist in identifying who may be at higher risk of overdose and at what points in time.  

Findings will be of clinical relevance for the MSIC in better understanding the trends and the points in time when clients may be at greater risk of overdose.

Students will gain skills in quantitative data analysis.

Essential criteria

See minimum entry requirements on the Monash University website.