MARIBYRNONG has maintained its position as a heroin overdose hotspot, with almost 200 heroin-related ambulance call-outs recorded in the latest Ambulance Victoria data.
Figures released last week by the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre show 768 alcohol- and drug-related ambulance call-outs in Maribyrnong in 2011-12, down from 869 the year before.
Hobsons Bay’s 564 call-outs were down from 541.
While improvements were recorded in some categories, there was a noticeable jump in alcohol-related attendances, from 185 to 219 in Maribyrnong and 143 to 186 in Hobsons Bay.
Of the 684 drug-related attendances in Maribyrnong, 31 were for cannabis, 22 for amphetamines and 15 for crystal methamphetamine (ice) — up from five the year prior.
There were 80 call-outs for benzodiazepine (sleeping pills), 25 for antipsychotics, 24 for antidepressants and nine for inhalants. Maribyrnong was again in the top three local government areas (LGAs) for heroin-related attendances, dropping from 205 to 190, including 112 call-outs for overdoses.
Hobsons Bay’s highest drug-related ambulance attendance rates were for benzodiazepine (55), heroin (37), cannabis (27), antidepressants (26) antipsychotics (25), amphetamines (25) and crystal methamphetamine (18). Alcohol again topped the list of most drug-related call-outs in metropolitan Melbourne with 8824 incidents, up 27 per cent.
Ambulance Victoria metro-west manager Simon Thomson said alcohol abuse could create challenging and dangerous situations for paramedics.
“Paramedics aren’t out to spoil the party for anyone, but we need people to understand the effects of alcohol and drugs can be considerable. Essentially, drugs and alcohol combined is a dangerous mix and it can kill you.”
Turning Point researcher Dr Belinda Lloyd said society’s seeming acceptance of excessive alcohol consumption had to stop.
Experts are also frustrated that messages about the dangers of crystal methamphetamine use are still not getting through, with a massive spike in the number of ice-related ambulance call-outs during 2011-12 — up 110 per cent from 282 to 592.
Turning Point director Dan Lubman said the community had to work together to address alcohol and drug-related harm. “This data reinforces community concern that our drinking culture is out of control and we have a growing methamphetamine problem,” he said. “It’s crucial that all arms of government and the community work together to minimise the escalating costs associated with alcohol and illicit drugs.”
