Australian drug overdose deaths hit record high, family stories emerge
According to ABC News, drug-related deaths in Australia have reached a record high in official data. Families are sharing accounts of their losses, while public-health experts are calling for expanded harm-reduction programmes against synthetic opioids and poly-drug use.
According to ABC News, the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data show that drug-related deaths have hit their highest level in a decade. Health experts say synthetic opioids and poly-drug use are the fastest-growing risk factors.
Families described their loved ones' search for support and the difficulty of accessing the health system. The Australian Medical Association and public-health groups called for wider availability of naloxone, expansion of supervised consumption sites and shorter waiting times for treatment.
The federal government said it was working on additional funding for harm-reduction programmes. Coordination with state governments and the next data release will be on the agenda in the coming weeks.
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