Push for Geelong injecting room garners support

A woman who led the campaign for the Richmond safe injecting room says a Geelong site should be considered, as other leaders share their opinion on the proposal. HAVE YOUR SAY.

Judy Ryan campaigned for a safe injecting room in Richmond.

A woman who led the campaign for the North Richmond safe injecting room says a Geelong site should be considered, as the push for a local facility gains momentum.

A petition for a medically supervised injecting room in Geelong was recently launched by relatives of a Norlane man who died from an overdose.

Judy Ryan, from Abbotsford, established the Residents for Victoria Street Drug Solutions campaign in 2016, and the North Richmond injecting room opened in 2018.

She said she thought a Geelong site should be considered.

Judy Ryan. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“If the evidence shows there’s a need for one based on ambulance call outs where naloxone is used, and views of residents in the area, I’d definitely support it,” she said.

A second injecting room for Victoria is slated for Melbourne’s CBD,but the state government said it had no plans to open one in Geelong.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) chief executive Chris Christoforou said medically supervised injecting rooms (MSIRs) reduced fatal overdose and provided referral and access to health and wellbeing services to people who may not have otherwise engaged.

“VAADA is therefore supportive of additional MSIR capacity in regions where the harms are apparent, including Geelong,” he said.

“For a MSIR to be effective, it must be near areas where there is a high volume of intravenous substance use and related harms.

“There is also value in consulting with the local community, health providers and importantly people who use drugs and the supporting peer based organisations.”

Ms Ryan said the North Richmond site had been hugely successful.

“There will always be opponents – I understand that,” she said.

Debbie Brady recently started a Change.org petition for a medically supervised injecting room in Geelong, which has attracted more than 470 signatures.

Jye Vessey in his younger years with mum Debbie Brady. Picture: Supplied

Her son Jye Vessey died earlier this year from a heroin overdose in the bathroom of a health centre, when he was visiting a needle exchange.

Dr Sarah Mansfield, Greens MP for Western Victoria, said government reports had identified Geelong as a high-risk area for overdoses.

“It’s why I support a medically supervised injecting room in Geelong, and why the Greens continue to push for medically-supervised injecting rooms close to where people are already at risk,” she said.

Greens MP Sarah Mansfield

“With the looming threat of illicit fentanyl on our shores, we’re facing a potential health disaster and an increased number of overdoses if we don’t prioritise harm reduction measures.”

She said the government must act now and with urgency.

“What’s most devastating about Jye’s death is that it could have been prevented,” she said.

State opposition mental health spokeswoman Emma Kealy said the state government was more focused on “hiding” a reportthat looked at opening a new Melbourne injecting facility,than investing in more rehab beds.

Emma Kealy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Ms Ryan has authored a book, You Talk, We Die, about the campaign for the North Richmond centre.

She is speaking at a panel about addiction alongside local health workers at Geelong library on Thursday at 6pm next week.

People can register online at the Geelong Regional Libraries website.

Originally published as Push for Geelong injecting room garners support