Thursday, 31 August 2023

International Overdose Awareness Day

Lee TARLAMIS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:08): Today marks International Overdose Awareness Day. This is an opportunity to come together to remember, without shame or judgement, those lost to overdose. It is a time to acknowledge the grief of loved ones left behind, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and try to find ways to lessen the incidence and impacts of overdose. It is about helping to spread the message that drug overdose is preventable and about taking action to save lives.

We all know the impacts of overdose are far-reaching and fall indiscriminately, affecting people of all ages, from grieving families to first responders and healthcare and support service workers. Today I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy to those who have experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one to overdose or who have been impacted by it.

Too often those who are affected are left to bear the burden of this crisis alone and in silence. That is why this year’s theme is ‘Recognising those people who go unseen’. Today I would like to recognise these people and say: we see you. Today I seek to amplify your voices and acknowledge your strengths and experiences, which serve as examples to us all. That is why our government continues to take action to address this issue, whether it be through the medically supervised injecting service, which provides a safety-first medical approach focused on harm reduction and has safely managed more than 6750 overdoses and saved at least 63 lives, or the permanent committee of stakeholders we have established to work together to reduce the effects of overdose. This and much more are all part of the government’s broader plan to tackle alcohol and drug abuse and build on an investment of more than $2 billion to more than double the number of residential rehabilitation beds, increase withdrawal beds and implement the Ice Action Plan and Drug Rehabilitation Plan. In concluding, to those affected by overdose, I repeat: we see you.