Jump in fatal overdoses

THE number of overdose drug deaths in Townsville has more than doubled, according to an annual report.

The data, which recorded a 107 per cent increase in drug deaths in Townsville, was published in Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2019 by the Penington Institute

In the five years between 2013 and 2017, there were 58 unintentional overdose deaths in the Townsville region.

Between 2003 and 2007 there were 28 unintentional deaths.

The report’s findings show 5.5 people out of every 100,000 are dying in Queensland, regardless of whether they live in greater Brisbane or the regions.

The rate of unintentional overdose deaths in regional Queensland is currently lower than at any time since the end of 2008.

Hervey Bay recorded a staggering 460 per cent increase in deaths, with every region experiencing an increase in deaths.

There were 280 unintentional deaths involving stimulants, 166 unintentional deaths involving heroin and 577 unintentional deaths resulting from pharmaceutical opioids.

Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said the deaths demonstrated a gap in treatment for drug users. “In only 10 years, overdose deaths in the Townsville region have more than doubled.

“This points to a massive failure to provide the kind of services and interventions that we know save lives,” he said. “Despite the rate of unintentional overdose deaths going down in recent years, the longterm trend is still upward and it’s important to recognise that in every single region of Queensland we’re looking at here, the actual number of deaths has increased in the five years from 2013-2017 as compared to 2003-2007.

“We must treat overdose deaths as preventable. We know what works in saving lives and reducing the harms from overdose deaths. We’re just not doing enough of it.”

The Penington Institute is a community-based, not-forprofit organisation involved in public health and safe approaches to drug use.