Thursday, 2 May 2024

Petitions

Drug harm reduction

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) presented a petition bearing 24 signatures:

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that there were 4,887 overdose deaths in Victoria between 2013 and 2022. The overdose death rate per head of population in metropolitan Melbourne is very similar to the rate in regional Victoria. The number of overdose deaths involving illegal drugs has risen steadily over time, almost doubling between 2013 and 2022. The petition brings awareness to the increasing lack of capacity and effectiveness within the current AOD treatment services to prevent overdose deaths and overdose harm in our local communities.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council review the current harm reduction strategies and introduce overdose prevention rooms, (also known as medically supervised injecting rooms) alongside community Needle Syringe Programs in the Geelong region and/or any other location where drug use was affecting communities. These facilities need to be wrap-around services that act as a gateway to health and social services for people with addiction.