By Mikayla van Loon
Every year on 31 August health, support and outreach services raise awareness about overdose, a somewhat silent killer of Australians every day.
Bringing that awareness to the local community, Inspiro, alongside Access Health and Community, joined Holy Fools for a Street Angels lunch on Wednesday 28 August to share the message of ‘together we can’.
According to the Penington Institute, the publisher of Australia’s Annual Overdose Report and organiser of International Overdose Awareness Day, 2356 drug-induced deaths were recorded in 2022 – 80 per cent of those deaths were unintentional.
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s (ADF) analysis of the report found the number of deaths had increased by 79 people since 2021, with the total deaths equating to six fatalities per day.
The report also indicated that with the growth of Australia’s population by 33 per cent from 2002 to 2022, unintentional drug-related deaths grew by a staggering 108 per cent.
With opioids contributing to the majority of unintentional deaths, ADF chief executive officer Dr Erin Lalor AM said action and awareness are integral as the threat of dangerous synthetic opioids looms.
“Concerningly, synthetic opioids are being detected increasingly across Australia, meaning anyone taking illicit or unregulated drugs could be at risk of harm,” Dr Lalor said.
“Synthetic opioids like nitazenes can be incredibly potent and can produce life-threatening effects very quickly – we’ve already witnessed the devastating impacts these drugs can have, including overdose and death.
“We call on governments to act now to stop future harms, including better access to the life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug, naloxone, as well as increased public drug checking services and supervised injecting facilities.”
That’s why the confidential and non-judgemental services Inspiro provides to the Yarra Ranges community, both through the alcohol and other drugs (AoD) counselling services and the needle and syringe program (NSP), go a long way in reducing harm.
The NSP, first introduced in 1987 in Victoria, aims to minimise the spread of blood-borne viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B and C.
Inspiro offers free equipment such as needles, syringes, sterile swabs, and contraception to anyone who needs them at both its Lilydale and Belgrave sites.
After hours NSP access is provided by healthAbility’s Community Outreach Program Eastern Region (CHOPER), which can also provides training for the use of naloxone.
EACH’s services in Ringwood and Ferntree Gully are approved naloxone providers.
“We urge people taking any kind of illicit substance to be on high alert and take harm reduction precautions, including starting with a low dose, avoiding using alone, and having naloxone on hand,” Dr Lalor said.
“Be aware of the signs of an opioid overdose which include slow or shallow breathing, bluish or greyish lips and complexion, and reduced consciousness. If you’re unsure, call triple zero immediately – ambulances are not required to involve the police.”
For support or advice, visit adf.org.au or call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 .
