The Hunter Region recorded 241 unintentional overdose deaths in four years, the annual Penington Institute report said - while raising alarm about the nation's "overdose crisis".
The report, released on Monday, recorded these deaths from 2017 to 2021 in Newcastle (88), Lake Macquarie (66), Cessnock, Singleton, Dungog (31), Port Stephens (25), Maitland (20) and Upper Hunter (11).