The rate of unintentional overdose deaths in Mudgee and Lithgow has increased 80 per cent over a 10-year period with regional NSW worst hit by the overdose crisis.
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Between 2013 and 2017 there were 18 unintentional overdose deaths in Lithgow and Mudgee , up from 10 between 2003 and 2007 according to the Penington Institute report released on Tuesday. The non-government institute identifies substance use problems and their causes.
In the Western Primary Health Network there were 38 drug induced deaths recorded during 2017, 32 of these were unintentional drug-induced deaths. In 2007 there were just 14 drug-induced deaths.
This upward trend is reflected in the wider region: Dubbo have seen 32 unintentional overdose deaths between 2013 and 2017; Orange have recorded 21 unintentional overdoses and Bathurst has recorded 24 deaths of similar circumstances.
How does Lithgow and Mudgee compare to the rest of the region?
CEO of Penington Institute John Ryan has called this an overdose crisis.
"On average, a person in NSW dies every 15 hours because of an unintentional overdose," he said.
"One of the main culprits has been the massive increase in the deaths due to stimulants like ice. Five years ago, unintentional deaths from overdoses of stimulants started sky rocketing - and they haven't stopped since."
There has been an increase in 'polydrug' use according to the Penington Institute. This is where people have overdose on multiple other types of drugs.
"We're good at treating single-drug overdoses. But when you're introducing multiple other types of drugs into a person's system, the response can be hard to predict," Mr Ryan said.
See how NSW compares to the rest of Australia
Regional NSW has been singled out as the worst hit by the overdose crisis.
"You're twice as likely to die of an unintentional drug overdose in regional NSW today than a decade ago," Mr Ryan said.
"Ten years ago, people were more likely to die of an unintentional overdose in Sydney than regional NSW. Today that has completely turned around. That points to a massive failure to provide the kind of services and interventions that we know save lives.
"We can turn this around before it's too late. If we apply the methods we know are successful in reducing overdose deaths, we'll save billions of dollars and, more importantly, save the lives of thousands of Australians."
Grace Ryan
Deputy Editor at the Central Western Daily, Orange. You'll mostly find me tinkering in social media and newsletters. Working hard to get our stories in front of your eyes.
Deputy Editor at the Central Western Daily, Orange. You'll mostly find me tinkering in social media and newsletters. Working hard to get our stories in front of your eyes.
