Melbourne mum who lost son to heroin overdose supports Victorian safe injection room trial

A MELBOURNE mother whose son died of a heroin overdose is backing the push for a safe injecting room trial in Victoria.

Cherie Short’s son, Aaron, overdosed on heroin aged 26 and she supports push injecting rooms. Picture: David Caird

• Premier refuses to support North Richmond safe injecting room

A MELBOURNE mother whose son died of a heroin overdose is backing the push for a safe injecting room trial in Victoria.

Mum of two Cherie Short said her son, Aaron, 26, “would still be here today’’ if he had ­access to a medical injecting facility in 2015.

Aaron had struggled with heroin throughout his 20s but had been off the drug for 12 months when he relapsed and died.

“I know had he overdosed in a safe injecting centre he would have been alive today,’’ Ms Short said.

“He was in 12 months of recovery, he was putting on weight, he was working, he had a girlfriend, they were going to get engaged.

“It could have helped him when he was alive.

“If it helps another family from losing a child then why should there be a question over safe injecting rooms?’’

Ms Short called for the State Government to support the proposed trial in North Richmond along with boosting rehabilitation funding.

She is among the growing number of supporters backing the Victorian Sex Party plan for an 18-month medical ­injecting room pilot.

It also comes as new figures reveal paramedic responses to heroin incidents in metropolitan Melbourne are costing ­taxpayers an estimated $2.3 million a year.

Sex Party leader Fiona Patten flagged she would introduce a private member’s Bill to sanction the trial and would launch the “end the needle nightmare” campaign today, including mobile billboards promoting the proposal.

“If the government is serious about protecting the public, it needs to be serious about setting up an injecting facility now,’’ she said.

“Sixty thousand needles in Richmond streets is a public safety nightmare. Every expert agrees this is urgent. In fact, it seems the only people opposed now are the politicians, and for no credible reason.”

Cherie Short is calling for the State Government to support the proposed safe injecting room trial in North Richmond. Picture: David Caird

The Herald Sun revealed this month a coalition of community leaders and medical experts is backing the bid including former premier Jeff Kennett, criminal lawyer Robert Richter, QC, City of Yarra mayor Amanda Stone and leaders of the Australian Medical Association.

However Premier Daniel Andrews has not supported the trial despite admitting heroin was a “serious issue”.

“We have no plans to introduce a safe injecting facility.

“There are other harm minimisation approaches we can take and we’re looking to explore those and that’s the view that I’ve had for a long time.”

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