Great Southern drug woes worsen as overdoses nearly double, sparking renewed calls for a rehab centre

The Great Southern has suffered the most drastic increase in drug overdose deaths WA outside of Mandurah, a newly released national report says. The alarming statistics have led to renewed calls for a residential drug rehabilitation facility in the Great Southern. The Penington Institute’s Australian Annual Overdose Report, released this week, says 30 people died of drug overdose in the region between 2014 and 2018. Between 2009 and 2013 there were 16 deaths in the Great Southern, according to the report. From 2002-2008, there were 10 deaths. “In the five years between 2014 and 2018, there were 30 unintentional overdose deaths in Albany,” Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said. “That’s an unacceptably high number – and it’s 30 too many. “The data is clear: the overdose situation in Albany is deteriorating. People are suffering and dying unnecessarily, and all levels of government and society are not doing enough to keep them safe.” Regional WA suffered the highest death rate in Australia in 2018, with 9.3 fatalities per 100,000 people. Albany-based Ben Headlam — the Great Southern regional manager for drug and alcohol service Palmerston — said he was not surprised by the report’s findings. Mr Headlam said there was a growing problem in the community with abuse of prescribed opioid medication. “People start taking these for pain and find themselves addicted,” he said. The “majority” of people who found themselves addicted to pain killers did not seek out treatment services such as Palmerston, Mr Headlam said. “Reasons related to stigma, (these people) don’t identify they’re addicted to a drug and don’t engage with a service like ours, or may not even be aware of a service like ours,” he said. Mr Headlam said the Great Southern was the only region without a residential rehabilitation program in a State which did not have the same services as the rest of Australia. “The current system for opioid treatment in the region is really limited to medical treatment ... it fails to adequately consider the wider contributing factors of addiction,” he said. The closest residential alcohol and drug services to Albany are in the South West region, in Nannup and Brunswick. A Mental Health Commission spokeswoman said investment for residential rehabilitation was guided by the WA Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Service Plan 2015-2025. “In order to meet the demand, the plan outlines that 16 residential rehabilitation beds are required in the Great Southern Region by the end of 2025,” the spokeswoman said. “Any new services that require State funding are subject to normal budgetary processes.”