Drug Overdose Increasing
Drug related ambulance callouts have increased to 9000 per year in Victoria which is nearing the record set during the heroin deaths period of 1999/2000.
Ambulance callouts for heroin overdoses represented 1 in 5 cases.
One in every four callouts was for the illicit drugs cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and GHB.
Benzodiazepines overdoses represented in excess of one in every three of the callouts.
Ambulance paramedics claimed that most drug callouts involved a cocktail of drugs which made the paramedic’s job more difficult.
Most overdoses were a deliberate attempt to get high by the users.
(Source: Herald Sun newspaper 11 April 2011)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
These statistics for ambulance callouts would be reflected in all other states and territories in Australia.
The substantial majority of these cases are preventable.
Because a drug overdose does not involve further activity to divert the user into rehabilitation this high level of drug crises will continue.
All Australian governments must keep to their international obligations of reducing demand for illicit drugs by rehabilitation that gets users off drugs.
Drug rehabilitation programs need to be substantially increased to reduce the demand on ambulances and hospital emergency departments.
THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
11/2011
