Accidental drug overdose deaths in Newcastle have risen by 90 per cent in a decade, new research shows. Login or signup to continue reading The number of "unintentional overdose deaths" rose in Newcastle from 49 from 2008 to 2012, to 93 from 2018 to 2022. Newcastle was ranked second in the state and fourth in the country for the number of "unintentional overdose deaths".
The data was released on Sunday in Penington Institute's annual overdose report for 2024. Penington Institute CEO John Ryan said he was "tired of seeing overdose numbers in this country rise year upon year". "Each time we publish this report, it is so distressing to think of the increasing number of people and families consumed by this tragedy every year," Mr Ryan said.
He called on politicians to do something about this, instead of running "fear campaigns" in the pointless drug war . Newcastle-based pain management expert Fiona Hodson said "lack of access to specialist services" contributed to the area's high numbers. "Because of opioid restrictions, people are using other medications," Ms Hodson said.
"There's a significant increase in illicit substances and other medications for pain relief." Ms Hodson, who is Chronic Pain Australia's vice chair, said there was "limited access to affordable non-pharmacological services". "Some people can't afford the gap payment for physio or psychology," she said.
Newcastle recorded 171 "unintentional drug-induced deaths" from 2013 to 2022, ranking second in the state behind Sydney Inner City. The drugs involved included opioids, benzodiazepines stimulants, alcohol, antidepressants and antipsychotics. Across the Hunter Region, there were 248 accidental overdoses from 2018 to 2022.
Newcastle had the highest number of deaths (93), followed by Lake Macquarie East (45), Cessnock, Singleton, Dungog (32), Lake Macquarie West (25), Maitland (24), Port Stephens (19) and Upper Hunter (10 ). Mr Ryan said governments had "shown a capacity to take action to reduce deaths relating to some drugs", with drink-driving rules and plain-label tobacco packaging. "But the inaction around reducing overdose is deplorable.
"We simply must come up with a national strategy to counter overdose and we must do it now. Enough is enough." Mr Ryan said politicians must "end the fear campaigns around drug use".
"We need our leaders to support and promote treatment-seeking behaviour." He said the institute was "determined to help find ways to address the problem". More than 42,000 Australians have died from drug overdose since 2000.
"That is almost enough people to fill the SCG," Mr Ryan said. With the institute report, Melbourne's Jen Furby highlighted the death of her only daughter Nicole from a mixed-toxicity drug overdose at age 25 in 2022. "There is so much more to losing someone you love to overdose than a funeral and statistics," Ms Furby said.
"There are those of us who are left behind to deal with the aftermath that can take months, if not years. "For me, panic attacks are the new normal. It is a definite conversation-stopper when someone you meet at the workplace, or anywhere, asks if you have children.
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