Victoria’s coroner calls for legal drug-injecting room

VICTORIA’S coroner has asked the Andrews Government to set up a legalised drug-injecting room following the death of a 34-year-old mother of two.

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VICTORIA’S coroner has asked the Andrews Government to set up a legalised drug-injecting room following the death of a 34-year-old mother of two.

The findings from an inquest into the sad death of the woman in a Hoddle St Hungry Jacks toilet have recommended Mental Health Minister Martin Foley establish a safe injecting trial in North Richmond.

Coroner Jacqui Hawkins conducted an inquest into the May 30, 2016 death of the woman identified as Ms A to explore the wider issues of heroin-related deaths in the City of Yarra and “prevention opportunities”.

Drug dealers are plying their illegal trade in plain sight. Picture: Alex Coppel

Having walked through North Richmond to witness heroin use and its aftermath first-hand, Coroner Hawkins yesterday handed down an impassioned plea in her official findings into the woman’s death.

“I understand why shock and disengagement are instinctive reactions of many people in the community when they first encounter public injecting related activity,” she found.

“Heroin is blatantly sold and used on the streets of North Richmond daily. The fact that 70,000 needles per month are distributed to drug users in the North Richmond area ... reflects this uncomfortable truth.

“This investigation has highlighted that heroin addiction is a public health issue. Heroin users face a daily battle against their compulsion to use and are at risk of death.

“When we accept that this addiction is a health issue, we are able to consider more clearly what can and must be done to support heroin users and reduce their risk of death.”

The Coroner’s finding comes a fortnight after a coalition of community figures and medical groups backed Sex Party MP Fiona Patten’s push for an 18-month drug injecting room trial in Richmond.

A person collects syringes from the ground in a carpark in Richmond.

A spokeswoman for Mr Foley yesterday said the government had no plans to set up a safe injecting room, but would consider the Coroner’s recommendations and respond in coming months.

The death of woman followed the deaths of 172 Victorians to die from heroin overdoses in 2015.

The 34-year-old was found unconscious in the toilets of Hoddle St Hungry Jacks with a syringe sticking out of the top of her leg and fresh track marks nearby.

While paramedics were able to ventilate her, the woman’s condition deteriorated during treatment in intensive care at St Vincent’s and she died.

Just three weeks earlier outreach workers had saved the same woman for another overdose, treating her with naloxone.

Having had a decade-long history of drug issues including various attempts to heroin and 35 contacts with Victoria Police officers, Ms A’s children had been removed from her care are were living with their father when she died.

Having had a decade-long history of drug issues including various attempts to heroin and 35 contacts with Victoria Police officers, Ms A’s children had been removed from her care are were living with their father when she died.

Ms Patten said the debate had been going on for long enough.

“We hear expressions of sympathy and statements that more will be done, but nothing ever does,” she said.

“It’s time to change that. The evidence is in and the experts agree we need this trial now.”

“I have a concrete proposal on the table, supported by residents, traders, experts and more than 50 frontline organisations.

“The bill is done, we have a site, we have the support and now all we need is for the government to choose to save lives.”