The Coroner’s Court of Victoria has released damning data on the number of deaths caused by overdose in the last decade, with increases in the number of fatal incidents overall and attributed to illicit substances.
The trend is worsening too, with 584 Victorians suffering a fatal overdose in 2024, 37 more than in 2023 and the highest number of deaths in one year on record in the state.
Anglicare Victoria’s program manager for community services in the east Stephanie Bortignon said sadly, the Coroners Court of Victoria report aligns with what they’re seeing in their Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services.
“The rate of overdoses has steadily increased over the last decade and, unfortunately, we’ve had a higher number of client deaths in the last 12 months than any other year in the last decade,” she said.
“As the report suggests, people may be sourcing from the illicit drug market because of restrictions on the availability of legal drugs. Tragically, this has led to an increase in preventable overdoses,”
“Many community members are unaware of the AOD support services that are available at no cost to them, which include everything from case management and advocacy to counselling, detox and rehab.
Here are how many deaths have been attributed to overdoses throughout the Outer East over the last decade:
In the Yarra Ranges, nine people died due to an overdose 10 years ago in 2015 and it was the same number last year. The highest number in any year during that time was 17 (2018) and the lowest was seven in 2020 and 2021. A total of 106 people died due to an overdose in the Yarra Ranges between 2015 and 2024.
In Knox, 11 people died due to an overdose 10 years ago in 2015 and it was the same number last year. The highest number in any year during that time was 17 (2018) and the lowest was seven in 2020 and 2021. A total of 122 people died due to an overdose in Knox between 2015 and 2024.
In Maroondah, 10 people died due to an overdose 10 years ago in 2015 and 13 died last year. The highest number in any year during that time was 15 (2019) and the lowest was four (2020). A total of 98 people died due to an overdose in Maroondah between 2015 and 2024.
In Cardinia, three people died due to an overdose 10 years ago in 2015 and six died last year. The highest number in any year during that time was 13 (2021) and the lowest was three (2016). A total of 64 people died due to an overdose in Cardinia between 2015 and 2024.
In total, 390 died due to an overdose throughout the Outer East between 2015 and 2024, an average of 39 per year.
Ms Bortignon said Anglicare Victoria operates the Substance Use Recovery Program (SURe) throughout the Eastern region in partnership with EACH, supporting community members on their recovery journey.
“If community members are struggling with substance use or are supporting a family member and want to know what services are available to them, I would highly recommend calling the centralised intake service in your catchment,” she said.
Anglicare Victoria also operates the Family Alcohol Drugs Service (FADS) across the Inner and Outer East, which provides counselling, consultancy and continuing care to individuals 18 years and older with substance use challenges, and their family members who are impacted by the problematic substance use.
Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri, who is a clinical director at Turning Point and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) emerging leader at the Monash Addiction Research Centre, said every overdose death is a preventable tragedy.
“These 584 deaths represent real people, they are someone’s parent, child, sibling, friend and they come from all walks of life,” she said.
“What’s particularly concerning is the rise in deaths from substances like heroin, which claimed 248 lives last year, and methamphetamine deaths, which have more than tripled since 2015,” “These deaths reflect systemic failures – there are effective supports and treatment, and these deaths are preventable.”
If this story has raised issues about your own or others drug and alcohol use, please contact the national hotline for confidential counselling and referral on 1800 250 015.
SURe Intake – Outer East Phone number: 1300 007 873
Anglicare Victoria – FADS program phone number 9896 6322
Assoc Prof Arunogiri said we need urgent action on multiple fronts, including expanding access to treatments, overdose prevention measures and investment in comprehensive treatment and harm reduction strategies.
“Heroin was the number one contributor to overdose deaths in Victoria, medications like methadone and buprenorphine help people rebuild their lives, but too many still can’t access these treatments when they need them most,” she said.
“We must expand overdose prevention measures, such as improving access to naloxone, this life-saving medication rapidly reverses opioid overdoses, and needs to be as common as carrying an asthma inhaler or a bandaid,”
“The fixed drug checking site opening in Melbourne this month is a positive step, and we need more evidence-based interventions, rural and regional areas especially need greater investment in treatment and support services, geography shouldn’t determine whether you can access care.”
The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA), the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and the Penington Institute have all also released statements concerned by the latest data.
