Pubdate: Tue, 6 Jul 2010
Source: Hume Star (Australia)
Copyright: 2010 Star News Group
Contact:  http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/star/hume
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4251
Author: Alesha Capone
Referenced: The Burnet Institute report http://mapinc.org/url/SRJejLGr
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?142 (Supervised Injection Sites)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN ON A HIGH

HEROIN-related emergencies in Brimbank have skyrocketed over the past 
five years, new statistics show.

Figures provided to Star show paramedics are attending heroin 
call-outs at an average of once every three days.

Paramedics were called to 128 heroin-related incidents throughout the 
municipality during 2008-2009.

An ongoing study being conducted by Ambulance Victoria and 
Melbourne's Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre showed ambulances 
also attended 117 heroin call-outs in Brimbank during 2007-2008.

The latest figures contrast starkly with 2006, when there were 28 
non-fatal heroin overdoses within Brimbank, 54 in the previous year 
and 68 in 2004.

The news comes after a report into the potential use of mobile, 
supervised drug injecting vans throughout Melbourne was released last 
fortnight.

The Burnet Institute report said fixed and motorised Supervised 
Injecting Facilities (SIFs) have "been unequivocally associated with 
reduced public injecting."

"The primary role of SIF staff is to provide education to clients 
without directly assisting the clients with injecting their 
pre-obtained drugs," the document said.

The report also said Brimbank was in the top four metropolitan 
locations for the most frequent heroin overdoses attended by 
Victorian ambulances during the first three months of last year.

The Burnet Institute research said reasons to decide SIF locations 
included prominent public injecting, high numbers of overdoses in 
public places and community concern abut discarded injecting equipment.

A few weeks ago, Star reported Brimbank City Council received 47 
calls to collect syringes dumped on private property over the past 12 months.

Several Brimbank residents said drug dealing and using was a major problem.

Renowned youth worker Les Twentyman said a lack of access to jobs and 
education contributed to the problem.

"Drug activity in the western suburbs is as bad as it has ever been," he said.

"Imagine what it'd be like today if people weren't injecting in car 
parks and squats."

Asip Demiri from the St Albans Trader's Association said he was 
worried a SIF vehicle might attract more drug addicts to Brimbank, 
but he supported more resources to find out why people used drugs.

"I find syringes in our car park all the time, we need a solution to 
get rid of drugs," he said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake