A St Albans paramedic believes changing attitudes are the reason ambulance callouts to crystal methamphetamine-related incidents in Brimbank doubled in the past year.
A new Turning Point drug and alcohol centre report reveals there were 60 reports related to ‘‘ice’’ use in 2012-13 – up from 27 the previous year.
Alcohol-related attendances jumped 55 per cent, from 276 to 430, over the same period.
Cannabis-related calls increased 78 per cent, from 38 to 68. Amphetamine-related attendances doubled from 35 to 74. There was a 35 per cent increase in benzodiazepine calls, from 107 to 145, and a rise in antidepressant-related attendances (37 to 54).
“There’s been an attitude change with people taking drugs,” paramedic Aaron Williams said.
“It used to be that marijuana was the innocuous drug. Speed and ice are [now] more of your everyday drug for your everyday person.
“In the past, on a Friday or a Saturday night, [a drug user] staying at home might have had a bong or a few joints, but now they’re choosing to use ice or speed. We’re getting more overdoses in the home.”
Mr Williams said the scene of a speed or ice overdose was often an aggressive and hostile environment.
“People who are overdosing [on speed and ice] are more volatile. You’ve got to keep your guard up all the time,” he said.
The report also revealed increases in antipsychotic and opioid-related attendances. However, there was a drop in heroin overdoses (from 101 to 79) and a marginal drop in heroin-related incidents (from 178 to 166).
Turning Point researcher Dr Belinda Lloyd said a ‘‘whole-of-community approach’’ was needed to tackle the problem.
“Government, health agencies, law enforcement, community groups, businesses and local residents must come together to address these issues and discuss possible solutions,” she said.
