Opioid epidemic takes its toll on Gold Coast families as overdoses increase by 75 per cent

THE number of people dying from drug overdoses on the Gold Coast has increased 75 per cent in the past decade, making it the second worst in the State as a growing opioid epidemic takes its toll.

THE number of people dying from drug overdoses on the Gold Coast has increased 75 per cent in the past decade.

Figures released today in Australia’s Annual Overdose Report show 245 Gold Coasters died from drugs from 2012 to 2016, 105 more than in the 2002-2006 period.

Surprisingly, experts said the fast-growing killer was prescription drugs.

The report by the Pennington Institute showed the Coast drug death toll for 2012-16 was 9.6 deaths per 100,000 people, second only in Queensland to the region that includes the Central Queensland and the Sunshine Coast.

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Nationally for the period, 7334 lost their lives to drugs.

“From 2001 to 2016, the drug type claiming the most lives (on the Gold Coast) is unsurprisingly opioids such as codeine, heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl,” said Penington Institute CEO John Ryan.

The number of deaths involving sleeping and anxiety tablets known as ‘Benzos’ doubled in just a decade.

GOLD COASTERS BECOMING ADDICTED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Gold Coast Health and Family Drug Support hosted a forum at the Upper Coomera Community Centre in 2016 for families and carers with a loved one impacted by drug use. Panel experts, David Pinchin, Kevin McNamara, Neil Rath, Michelle Edwards and Dom Shelley. Photo: Jerad Williams

Dr Kevin McNamara, the medical director of mental health and specialist programs at Gold Coast University Hospital, said addiction to prescription opioids was prevalent.

“Our Emergency Department sees overdoses regularly and certainly in outpatients, everyday we see opioid dependant individuals,” he said.

“We see very fewer new heroin addicts now, we are more likely to see drug dependent people on prescribed or on-sold pills.

“There are two ways people get these pills, it is go to a doctor and spin a bit of a story, or get them by an onseller. We call that diversion.”

Gold Coast University Hospital’s Dr Kevin McNamara said the Emergency Department treated opioid dependent people every day.

YOUNG GOLD COASTERS USING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO COME DOWN FROM BINGES

Dr McNamara said the toxic nature of the opioids made those using them more prone to overdose than other drug users.

“What is worth keeping in mind that other drugs like ice are still in use but opioids are particularly toxic.”

Nationally, the prescriptions for opioids have jumped from 10 million in 2009 to 14 million today.

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Dr McNamara said steps were being taken to tighten regulations of these drugs to ensure the city was not sleepwalking towards a United States-style drug overdose crisis.

“We are focused on education of GPs when it comes to prescribing opioids, we are also the first to introduce an opioid stewardship program to ensure the right amount is only prescribed a the right time. We are also addressing the chronic pain.

“The reason this is focused on a fair bit in Australia is we are really conscious of what happened in the USA.

“Not get to the same stage as United States, that is our big goal, we want to make epidemic doesn't come here,” he said.

Prescription drugs has becoming the fast-growing killer for people on the Gold Coast. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison)

Lives Lived Well Group Manager Clinical Services Julie Fox said drug support groups had come a long way in working with GPs on the issue.

“Prescription medication has always been an issue, certainly some of the steps like a shared data base is going a long way.

“Drug services are always going to be in this business unfortunately.

“But addiction is a community problem, not a sector or drug specific problem that we need to address,” she said.

Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson said the drug situation on the Gold Coast was not dissimilar to that facing the rest of the nation.

“We are a major city we suffer the same problems as all the other cities in Australia, this includes different surges of certain drug types,” he said.

“Methamphetamines are our biggest issue.

“The Gold Coast police also regularly investigate the onselling of prescription opioids

“We investigate the unlawful supply and illegal possession of prescription drugs on a regular basis.”

“If anyone has information about person illegally selling we are very interested, they should report it to their local police station and it will be investigated,” he said.

● If you need someone to talk to phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.