More Australians are taking their own lives with a drug recommended by euthanasia groups, including people aged in their teens, 20s and 30s.

New data from the national coronial information system shows 120 people died by taking Nembutal – dubbed the "peaceful pill" – between July 2000 and December 2012.

The number of deaths from the drug reached a high of 24 in 2011, compared with nine in 2001. In 2012, there were 17 deaths. However, there may be more as the data obtained by Fairfax Media does not include cases before the coroner.

Voluntary euthanasia campaigners say the actual number of Nembutal deaths is even higher, as many deaths are not reported to the coroner and people who use the drug to take their lives take steps to make it look like the death is of natural causes.

The deaths included one person under the age of 20, 11 people in their 20s and 14 people in their 30s.