The Victorian Greens warn that Victoria risks sleepwalking into a drug overdose crisis as new analysis reveals record high cocaine use amidst warnings of detected synthetic opioids.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) have released new wastewater analysis that shows that cocaine use has hit record highs. It comes after recent government alerts have warned that a white powder being sold as cocaine contains nitazenes.
The analysis also revealed that parts of Melbourne had some of the highest heroin use and that sites in regional Victoria detected the highest consumption of fentanyl.
The Victorian Greens have been calling for more safe injecting rooms now that synthetic opioids have entered the community, urging the new Premier to listen to the expert advice.
Victorian Greens spokesperson for drug harm reduction, Aiv Puglielli said that it’s seriously concerning that the use of drugs that we know are often adulterated with synthetic opioids are skyrocketing.
He added that there is no shame in the new Premier taking a U-turn on safe injecting rooms amidst this synthetic opioid crisis and as Melbourne remains a hotspot for heroin use, she should revisit the expert evidence from the Ken Lay report that recommended a second injecting room in the CBD.
As stated by Victorian Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson, Aiv Puglielli:
“The fact that cocaine use is at the highest point since records began and we know that these drugs are often sold on the illicit market cut with deadly synthetic opioids is gravely concerning.
“Synthetic opioids are being found in everything – they’re in powders, they’re in pills, they’re injected. They’re everywhere and they’re here now. The new Premier can’t afford to stumble around on making a plan to keep Victorians safe.
“In a time when drug use is skyrocketing in Victoria and deadly substances are circulating in the community, we need more safe injecting rooms otherwise we will see mass death events like what’s occurring in the US.
“This analysis has shown high heroin use in Melbourne, yet Labor turned their back on the evidence to put another safe injecting room in the CBD in the too hard basket. That’s not good enough.
“Safe injecting rooms can resuscitate and have the resources to stop people from dying.
“As synthetic opioids become more common and drug use is on the rise, it’s never been more urgent that the new Premier listen to the experts and establish more safe injecting rooms otherwise Victoria is sleepwalking into a drug overdose crisis.
“The new Premier changed her mind and listened to the experts on pill testing out of her concerns as a parent for young people. Now she needs to do the same for safe injecting rooms and extend that compassion to the vulnerable people who inject their drugs.”
