He was not just an addict, he was a son, a brother, a father, a nephew, and a friend. He was a young man with a dual diagnosis, a man who not only suffered a long battle with addiction but also Schizophrenia. Despite being an NDIS participant and being linked with the community mental health teams, support was limited, as his case was too complex, and maintaining his health was never sustainable.

His name was Jye, and this year he overdosed in his local community health centre while accessing the needle exchange program. He overdosed in the toilets, and he was not found for many hours, at which point no attempt was made to save his life because frankly, it was too late. His story is hard to tell, but a story that is becoming far too common with an international crisis of drug overdoses.

The statistics speak for themselves.

• Opioids are the fastest-growing and most harmful group of new psychoactive substances – there were 87 different types recorded globally in 2020, an increase from just one in 2009 Source: Penington Institute (2022)
• For Australians aged 30-39, drug-induced deaths were the second-leading cause of death behind suicide in 2020. Source: Penington Institute (2022)
• This number of deaths is equivalent to 5 drug-induced deaths per day among Australians in 2020 Source: ndarc unsw
• In 2020, more than one in three (37%, 676 deaths) drug-induced deaths had at least one psychosocial risk factor coded Source: ndarc unsw

We need to acknowledge this as the national health problem it is. Geelong needs a medically supervised injecting room. It delivers onsite healthcare and provides immediate medical care to an overdose.

Since opening on 30 June 2018 until December 2022, the staff at the Medically Supervised Injecting Service (MSIR) located in North Richmond (MSIR) have safely managed more than 6,750 overdoses and provided thousands of health and social support interventions including wound care, blood-borne virus treatment, alcohol and other drug treatment, mental health support, dental care, family violence support, social welfare, and material aid.

Medically supervised injecting room aims to reduce the incidence of public injecting and reduce the number of discarded needles and syringes in neighbouring public areas.

Let’s say that again – reducing the incidence of public injecting, making our communities and children safe!!

What are the other benefits of a medically supervised injecting room? (Besides reducing overdoes harm)

• reduced ambulance attendances and emergency department presentations related to overdose (We know our hospitals are already overworked and under-resourced)
• reduced the number of discarded needles and syringes in nearby public places (I will keep repeating this, as I keep hearing that no one wants these rooms in their community because it will cause issues – the issues are already here)
• assisted in reducing the spread of blood-borne diseases including HIV and hepatitis C
• provided a gateway to health and social services for people who inject drugs.

I will be seeking to present to Richard Marles, the Local Member of Corio and deputy prime minister and Ella George Local Member of Lara. 

For those reading this who have lost a loved one to an overdose, you are not alone, I know your pain, for those this story doesn’t resonate with, I hope it remains that way however that might not be the case, one day it could be your loved one, please help in the prevention.

Please sign and share in loving memory of Jye.

Thanks Debbie Brady. 

For more information,

https://www.penington.org.au/ 

https://www.overdoseday.com/