Drug overdoses killing more Central Coast people, report finds
AN alarming new report has shown a dramatic increase in the number of Central Coast people dying from drug overdoses, including those prescribed by a doctor.
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ACCIDENTAL overdosing on prescription drugs has contributed to an alarming increase in drug-related deaths on the Central Coast.
According to the Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2018,overdoses are claiming more lives on the Coast with a 42.5 per cent increase in deaths.
The report, by the Penington Institute, revealed that 181 people died of a drug-related death on the Central Coast between 2012 and 2016, compared to 127 deaths from 2002 to 2006.
It warned Australia is on track to experience a drug overdose crisis with 2177 lives lost to drug overdose in 2016.
Central Coast Local Health District manager of drug and alcohol services Steven Childs said drug-related overdoses were a “legitimate concern”, with the latest statistics serving as an important public safety message.
Mr Childs said prescription opioids, such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone and fentanyl, were driving the increase.
“When you go back to the early 2000s drug-related deaths from opioids was dominated by heroin,” he said.
“Now people are sourcing pills from GPs and through the black market. If taken inappropriately in high dosages, people become addicted.”
Mr Childs said while people injecting heroin know there is a risk of overdose, people taking prescription drugs are at a higher risk of an accidental overdose.
“People using a patch or pill can think it’s safe being a prescription, but with misuse it can be unsafe,” he said.
“While painkillers have a legitimate role, again a mixture of toxicity can cause overdose and death.”
He said 80 per cent of drug overdoses were accidental.
“On one hand it has increased, but on the other hand it means in so many cases it should be preventable,” he said.
“People are overusing and misusing drugs without realizing. If people are aware of the dangers they can get professional help if they have become addicted.”
The Penington report revealed sleeping tablets/anxiety tablets, known as Benzos, had become a hidden epidemic.
Mr Childs said misusing Benzos can be problematic, and are implicated in a lot of drug deaths due to their interaction with opioids.
“If you are using an opioid, a benzo and or alcohol, those three drug classes in whatever combination can cause an overdose or death,” he said.
“If you are drinking alcohol and not thinking straight, you can forget what the doctor has prescribed. That’s the sort of problem we are seeing. People have no intention of dying, they just make poor choices.”
He urged people to follow doctors instructions “religiously” with prescriptions.
“When people self-medicate above that, they don’t realise once you move beyond what’s safe, it becomes dangerous,” he said.
“If people are aware of the problems, you can have earlier conversations with family members/friends.”
said there were also problems around people seeing numerous GPs for different scripts.
“Be aware if someone you know is seeing a number of doctors as this may indicate they are addicted to a drug,” he said.
Mr Childs said if you have concerns about prescription medication or addiction, contact a GP who knows your history.
He also encouraged people to call the Alcohol and Drug Information Services on 1800 250 015. If you suspect a person is having an overdose, call 000.