Coroner’s report reveals Victoria’s overdose capital

A regional city and parts of Melbourne have hit a grim record with the most overdose deaths in a year, shock data reveals. Search for your suburb here.

Geelong and Greater Dandenong recorded the highest number of fatal overdoses last year, eclipsing inner city suburbs.

The latest Coroner’s report reveals 500 people died after overdosing in Victoria, including 23 people in the Greater Geelong area, and 21 people in both Greater Dandenong and Whitehorse.

But the inner city remained Victoria’s heroin hotspot, with Port Phillip and Yarra – home to Melbourne’s only injecting room in North Richmond – topping the list with 11 heroin-involved fatal overdoses each.

This is the third year in a row heroin-related deaths have decreased in Yarra, falling from a 10-year high in 2018 of 26 deaths.

The state government has previously said the North Richmond injecting room has saved at least 44 lives.

The inner city remains Victoria’s heroin hotspot. Picture: Jason Edwards

Greater Dandenong and Greater Geelong recorded 10 heroin-involved deaths. There were 74 deaths across the entire state.

Greater Dandenong also topped the list for deaths linked to methamphetamine, with the region recording 12 fatalities – the highest in 10 years.

Port Phillip and the City of Melbourne followed with 11 and 10 deaths respectively, while Brimbank recorded nine.

These figures again represented the highest annual toll in a decade for all three local government areas (LGAs).

When accounting for all drugs, 18 of Victoria’s 43 local government areas recorded 10 or more overdose fatalities.

Only 12 LGAs recorded zero fatal overdoses, all of which were in regional Victoria.

There were 399 deaths in metropolitan Melbourne – the highest number in a decade and in line with past trends.

Metropolitan deaths have increased year-on-year in nine of the past ten years.

Regional Victoria saw a drop in deaths, with 101 fatalities – the lowest number since 2015.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association chief Sam Biondo said the reduction in overall fatal overdoses hid an increase among men and people living in Melbourne.

“While this (Melbourne) increase is in line with the incremental increases of previous years, it is difficult to pin point the drivers for the dramatic decrease in fatal overdose among women and in regional Victoria,” Mr Biondo said.

“Greater examination is required to ascertain if this amounts to a significant decline in fatal overdose among women living in rural and regional Victoria.”

Metropolitan deaths have increased year-on-year in nine of the past ten years. Picture: Jason Edwards

Cohealth chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said: “One death is too many. Behind

these numbers are humans experiencing one of the most highly stigmatised health

conditions globally.

“We need to focus more on harm reduction by improving access to supervised injecting

services, increasing distribution of overdose-reversal drug, Naloxone, and helping people get onto opioid replacement therapy.

“There needs to be a greater shift to health-based responses to drug use, instead of

justice-based responses.

“People are dying because the stigma, shame and fear of punishment attached to drug use

stops them from seeking help and accessing services.”