90% rise in Newcastle's accidental drug overdose deaths over a decade; city ranks 2nd in state and 4th nationally.
90% rise in Newcastle's accidental drug overdose deaths over a decade; Newcastle ranks second in the state and fourth in the country for unintentional overdose deaths, with 93 deaths between 2018 and 2022. A lack of specialist services, opioid restrictions, and limited access to affordable non-pharmacological services contribute to the high numbers. Newcastle recorded 171 unintentional drug-induced deaths between 2013 and 2022, ranking second in the state behind Sydney Inner City. Penington Institute's CEO John Ryan calls for a national strategy to counter overdose and for politicians to support and promote treatment-seeking behavior.
August 25, 2024
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