Drug services sector voices concern over fentanyl use

People in the Geelong region are misusing a deadly pain medication fuelling an overdose epidemic in America, sparking calls to implement measures to help save lives.

Barwon Health harm reduction co-ordinator Craig Harvey. Picture: Alan Barber

A strong opioid pain medication fuelling an overdose epidemic in the US is sparking concern locally.

It’s understood people using fentanyl, which is about 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, recreationally have presented to Barwon Health.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association acting executive officer Scott Drummond said we were likely to see more fentanyl going forward, as well as highly hazardous similar novel substances.

“We are acutely concerned about the probable risk of an increased presence of fentanyl in Australia,” Mr Drummond said.

“Sadly, policing efforts offer no guarantee on stopping supply of illicit drugs, as is evident from the large consumption rate and harms within the population.

“There is a need to ensure that we set up early warning systems to ensure that the broader health and alcohol and other drugs treatment and harm reduction sector are not caught unaware when these substances reach Australia.

“We are fortunate that across all measures of harm, fentanyl related harm is still very low.”

Fentanyl is a strong opioid pain medication that can be deadly.

Mr Drummond said a drug checking and public alert system which would allow people who had already decided to purchase a drug to find out if it contained any unexpected hazardous elements was needed.

“Currently, we find out about dangerous substances through pathology tests taken from people in ED or morgues,” he said.

Andrea McLeod, chief executive of alcohol and drug support service Windana, said it had not seen many clients who had used fentanyl statewide, with none recorded at its Geelong centre.

“We’re not seeing it as a huge issue at the moment ... but everyone says it’s just a matter of time (before) we start to see larger quantities,” she said.

She said the drug being used as a cutting agent with other substances, which was happening often overseas, was a major concern.

“When people are unaware they’re taking a drug that may have fentanyl in it, that’s a huge concern,” she said.

Ms McLeod said there was an opportunity to prepare and implement policy and preventive measures to help save lives.

This could include drug checking and improved access to pharmacotherapy, she said.

Barwon Heath harm reduction co-ordinator Craig Harvey said recreational use of fentanyl had similar risks to other opioids and could be lethal in much smaller doses, potentially causing slow or ineffective breathing called respiratory depression.

“We advise anyone using opioids either recreationally or by prescription to carry naloxone and be trained in its use,” he said.

“Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose or adverse reaction. 

“Barwon Health’s Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Service harm reduction team can offer this training and supply free doses of naloxone that can be used through a simple nasal spray.”

He said Barwon Health was not aware of locally confirmed cases of people accidentally ingesting fentanyl by way of a contaminated drug supply.

Originally published as Drug services sector voices concern over fentanyl use