Drug overdoses rising
Silent killer claiming 50 per cent more local lives
PREVENTABLE drug overdoses are quietly claiming a growing number of Townsville residents’ lives, according to the latest overdose statistics published in Australia’s Annual Overdose Report for 2021.
Compiled by the Penington Institute, a not-for-profit organisation that advocates for a harm-reduction approach to drug policy, the report is released annually to coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.
It draws attention to the 2227 Australians who died due to overdoses in 2019 – 1644 of which were unintentional.
The report found that 69 Townsville residents died of unintentional overdose in the five years between 2015 and 2019. This is a 50 per cent increase on the 46 unintentional overdose deaths recorded in 2010-14 and almost double the 39 recorded in 2005-09.
In 2019, 134 residents of regional Queensland died of unintentional overdose, compared with 145 residents of Greater Brisbane.
Opioids continue to be the primary drug group associated with unintentional drug-induced deaths.
Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said overdose deaths had outnumbered the road toll since 2014.
“Yet while governments commit themselves to the important work of reducing the road toll, overdoses continue to claim the lives of thousands of our loved ones in virtual silence,” Mr Ryan said.
“In the five years between 2015 and 2019, 69 people lost their lives to unintentional overdose in Townsville. That’s 69 too many – and 23 more than five years earlier.
“There’s no doubt about the data; the overdose situation in Townsville is getting worse. We’re not doing enough to protect our people, and we need our governments at all levels to take the lead on this health crisis.”
Mr Ryan described overdoses as “Australia’s hidden health crisis – the epidemic that’s being ignored”.
“We want this report to be a dose of reality for our leaders and to start a real conversation that brings overdose out of the shadows, keeps people safe and spares families the anguish
of losing a loved one,” he said. International Overdose Awareness Day will provide an opportunity to remember those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of those who are left behind.