Deadly drug overdose toll in regional Vic

The overdose drug capitals of regional Victoria have been revealed as the death toll continues to climb across the state. Experts warn unnecessary stigma could make it worse.

Latrobe and Bendigo are the overdose capitals of regional Victoria as the decade’s drug death toll climbs to more than 1000 people.

The two local government areas were among the highest ranked for overdose deaths in the state coroner’s recent investigation into 4551 deaths from 2011-2020.

Of those, a quarter were in regional areas, with Greater Geelong making up one in six regional drug deaths.

But smaller regional centres such as Latrobe, Bendigo, Ballarat and Mildura have also shown spikes in overdose deaths.

The coroner’s report said fatal overdoses in Latrobe doubled in 2020 with 12 deaths last year.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondo said based on population regional Victoria had a worse overdose death rate than their city counterparts.

“2020 marks the highest number of deaths in all of Gippsland over the past decade,” Mr Biondo said.

“(And) roughly one in three overdoses in Gippsland occur in Latrobe.

“Disadvantage and poverty reduce peoples ability to recover from substance dependence.”

Mr Biondo said while the pandemic had not drastically increased overdose deaths, it had disrupted traditional drug markets leading to the growing use of dangerous new substances.

“(The pandemic is) paving the way for the emergence of new, potentially more harmful substances,” he said.

He said statewide deaths due to novel psychoactive substances, drugs that mimic classic drugs, had jumped from two overdoses in 2017 to 33 deaths last year.

The coroner’s report said cocaine, GHB and MDMA deaths reached a 10-year-high under the pandemic, while heroin deaths dropped.

Mr Biondo said education and prevention programs were a key but under resourced part of drug death prevention.

“Unfortunately, most government funded drug treatment agencies do not have the resourcing to provide education and prevention programs,” he said.

“VAADA has been calling for some time for the inclusion of skilled alcohol and other drug treatment clinicians to be present in schools to support students at risk and where necessary provide referral to suitable treatment agencies.”

Public health experts said the chemists’ counter was another battleground, as pharmaceutical drugs made up three-quarters of all overdose deaths in 2020.

Mobile drug safety worker Paul Morgan said Bendigo Community Health Service had called for naloxone treatments to be prescribed with every opioid script.

Bendigo Community Health Services mobile drug safety worker Paul Morgan. Picture: Contributed

“These are people just like you and me, visiting the doctor and getting a prescription,” Mr Morgan said.

“(These drugs) are very effective at pain relief, but it’s capable of causing an overdose if misused.”

The coroner’s report said outside of Geelong and Melbourne, Bendigo had the highest number of overdose deaths in the past decade – with 102 people losing their lives.

“It’s such a terrible waste of life,” Mr Morgan said.

“Everyone who works (in public health) knows someone who has overdosed.

“We all know someone who hasn’t made it.”

Mr Morgan said the grief hit families differently after a fatal overdose.

“There’s shame attached to that and that can be very hard for people,” he said.

“The sadness is compounded that the death was caused by usage that is stigmatised.”

Mr Morgan said shame and stigma stopped people from getting help.

“People need to feel free to put their hand up and say ‘I need support’,” he said.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said paramedics would treat anyone without judgment.

“Paramedics are here to help, but they need to know if someone has consumed drugs or alcohol and what is in their system to treat them effectively,” she said.

A Victoria Police spokesman said managing overdoses was complex.

“Drug usage in our community is complex and that the criminal law is only one mechanism to reduce drug-related harm,” he said.

“Strong, collaborative relationships between Victoria Police and its community partners are vital to divert and refer people who need help into appropriate services, ensuring they receive the support they require.

“We are focusing on the drugs causing the most harm within our community by arresting and prosecuting drug dealers and disrupting drug networks trading off the addiction of others.”

Regional Victoria’s overdose hot spots

1. Greater Geelong: 21 deaths in 2020, 201 in the past decade

2. Latrobe: 12 in 2020, 83 since 2011

3. Greater Bendigo: 10 in 2020, 102 since 2011

4. Ballarat: 10 in 2020, 73 since 2011

5. Mildura: 10 in 2020, 52 since 2011

6. Greater Shepparton: 7 in 2020, 62 since 2011

7. East Gippsland: 6 in 2020, 29 since 2011

8. Campaspe: 6 in 2020, 28 since 2011

9. Wangaratta: 6 in 2020, 28 since 2011

10. Bass Coast: 4 in 2020, 37 since 2011