by Jennifer Pittorino and Laura Michell
Brimbank recorded the state’s second-highest number of heroin overdoses between July 2020 and June 2022, new data reveals.
The Coroners Court of Victoria data, released to the Victorian Drug and Alcohol Association, reveals there were 28 heroin overdose deaths in the Brimbank between July 2020 and June 2022.
The municipality recorded more heroin overdose deaths than the City of Yarra, which is home to the Richmond supervised injecting room.
There were 23 deaths recorded in Yarra, according to the Coroners Court data.
The City of Melbourne topped the list, recording 29 heroin overdose deaths between July 2020 and June 2022.
Heroin overdose deaths in Brimbank rose in 2022, after the city recorded a decline in overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the data shows.
Between April and June 2021, there was one heroin overdose death in Brimbank, rising to eight between April and June 2022.
cohealth said the data showed that the pandemic did impact drug trends, but overdose rates are “now worse than pre-COVID”.
The not-for-profit has programs across the west of Melbourne at which people using drugs can access a wide range of services including the supply of clean injecting equipment, health care and counselling and recovery pathways.
Visitors can also access family drug support, free Nalaxone (overdose reversal drug) and training in how to use it and help from a non-residential withdrawal nurse.
cohealth acohol and drug cluster leader Dean Rogut said said COVID lead to increased usage, lower tolerances leading to susceptibility of overdosing and [Brimbank] is a disadvantaged area which needs support.
“We know that social disadvantage can be related to problematic substance use, which means that geographic areas with greater disadvantage may see more drug harms,” he said.
“Rather than treating people like criminals, we need to act with compassion and care and work towards reducing stigma and discrimination.”
