Our impact in 2025
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It’s time for legal and regulated cannabis for adult use in Australia
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Overdose is a public health crisis. Here's what we do to address it.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Our Vision

Freedom from serious drug harms.

Our Mission

To help people and institutions, regardless of their status or beliefs, to minimise serious harms from legal and illicit drugs.

Our Role

Penington Institute champions an open, rational, and compassionate approach to building and sharing knowledge to reduce drug-related harm.

Cannabis regulation

We push for an effective regulatory framework for cannabis defined by public health goals, with priority placed on targeted prevention, education, and treatment.

Overdose prevention

Penington Institute produces Australia’s Annual Overdose Report to demonstrate the nature of the overdose crisis and to support change to reduce drug-induced deaths.

Our Impact

Image of street crowd walking with text over the top that says media release

Victoria falling behind as opioid treatment gap widens 

New Federal Government data has revealed an alarming shortfall in access to life-saving opioid dependence treatment in Victoria, prompting calls for urgent reform.  Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that 57,754 Australians received opioid pharmacotherapy on a snapshot day in June 2025 – yet Victoria is lagging behind comparable states. 

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Vale Professor The Hon Marie Bashir AD CVO

Penington Institute mourns the passing and pays tribute to the life and achievements of Professor The Hon Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO.  Professor Bashir served as a Patron of Penington Institute since the organisation’s establishment in 2014. With trademark compassion and kindness, she was a passionate supporter of Penington Institute’s vision to minimise drug harms to Australians through the

Learn More
Image of street crowd walking with text over the top that says media release

Victoria falling behind as opioid treatment gap widens 

New Federal Government data has revealed an alarming shortfall in access to life-saving opioid dependence treatment in Victoria, prompting calls for urgent reform.  Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that 57,754 Australians received opioid pharmacotherapy on a snapshot day in June 2025 – yet Victoria is lagging behind comparable states. 

Learn More

Vale Professor The Hon Marie Bashir AD CVO

Penington Institute mourns the passing and pays tribute to the life and achievements of Professor The Hon Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO.  Professor Bashir served as a Patron of Penington Institute since the organisation’s establishment in 2014. With trademark compassion and kindness, she was a passionate supporter of Penington Institute’s vision to minimise drug harms to Australians through the

Learn More

International Overdose Awareness Day

Penington Institute convenes the world’s largest annual campaign to end the overdose crisis. International Overdose Awareness Day falls on August 31 each year.