Record overdose figure more than double the latest annual road toll

The number of drug overdose deaths increased 17 per cent in Victoria the past year, prompting fears more people will die at festivals in what could become “the new normal”.

The concerning trend in party-drug-related deaths comes as thousands of young Victorians prepare for the music festival season and schoolies.

Almost a dozen Victorians a week are dying from drug overdoses – more than double the annual road toll – sparking fears for the festival season.

More than 600 people died of a drug overdose in the 12 months to June 30 – a 17 per cent jump on the previous ­financial year – with concerns the huge number could become “the new normal”.

The alarming figures, revealed in the latest Victorian Coroner’s Court annual report, follow detailed analysis of 2023 overdose fatalities that shows nitazene, cocaine, GBH and methamphetamine-related deaths were on the rise.

Nitazenes are a novel synthetic opioid designed to mimic illicit substances such as MDMA and cocaine, and have emerged on the Australian drug scene in recent years after wreaking havoc overseas.

There was a 17 per cent jump in drug overdose deaths on the previous ­financial year.

Victorian health authorities sounded the alarm over ­cocaine-laced protonitazene – a lethal drug 100 times more ­potent than heroin – in July after four people were found dead at a Broadmeadows home having ingesting the dangerous substance.

The concerning trend in party-drug-related deaths comes as thousands of young Victorians prepare for the music festival season and schoolies.

Pill testing laws passed ­parliament last week, paving the way for fixed and mobile drug testing to operate across Victoria. Drug-checking services will be available at festivals this summer but will not be stationed at schoolies hotspots, such as Rye, Lorne and Sorrento.

While deadly heroin overdoses declined last year following a major spike in 2022, the highly addictive drug still accounted for more than 35 per cent of overdose deaths, while fatalities from methamphetamine, otherwise known as “Ice”, jumped from 141 to 164.

Heroin remains one of the top contributors to fatal overdoses. Picture: Jason Edwards

Despite the worrying trend – and a recommendation by former police commissioner Ken Lay – Premier Jacinta Allan abandoned plans for a second injecting room earlier this year after the government failed to find a suitable CBD location.

The move was slammed by drug safety advocates at the time, with some warning that it would “cost lives”.

Despite the increase in illicit drug deaths, fatal overdoses involving anti-anxiety medication diazepam, otherwise known as Valium, remain the most common, contributing to almost 40 per cent of all drug-­induced deaths in 2023.

During the past decade, prescription-drug-related deaths have declined while overdoses from illegal drugs have soared.

Most drug-­induced deaths involved multiple substances and were unintentional.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association CEO Chris Christoforou, who noted the record overdose figure of 601 was more than double the latest annual road toll – which hit a 15-year high at 296 deaths last year – feared the terrifying trend had become “the new normal”.

VAADA CEO Chris Christoforou fears annual overdose deaths of more than 600 could become the “new normal”. Picture: Supplied

“The second half of 2023-24 saw a significant increase in the monthly overdose rate, from as low as 30 fatalities to 50 fatalities per month,” he said.

“Given this alarming increase, we can make assumptions that this trend is becoming the new normal, where there are almost two fatal overdoses per day from alcohol and other drugs in ­Victoria.”

He said drug-checking services and the expansion of opioid reversal drug naloxone was “timely and necessary”.

Penington Institute chief John Ryan said Victoria’s “overdose toll is completely out of control” and “easy-to- produce, easy to traffic synthetic drugs” were only making it worse.

A state government spokesperson said: “Whether it’s introducing pill testing this summer, installing Naloxone vending machines, or expanding access to pharmacotherapy - we’re getting on with the job of addressing and reducing drug harms in our community.”