Health Minister highlights drugs programs after report shows rise in Bunbury unintentional overdose deaths

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the State Government was working to reduce the ever-growing number of unintentional drug overdoses after new data was released for the Bunbury region. Data from from the Penington Institute released ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday showed the city and surrounding areas had experienced 56 unintentional drug overdose deaths between 2018 and 2022. The result was a more than 43 per cent increase on figures recorded between 2013 and 2017 and a nearly 70 per cent increase on figures from between 2008 and 2012. The number of deaths in the Bunbury region were higher than other parts of the South West, with the Busselton-Margaret River and Manjimup regions respectively recording 24 and two deaths in the five years to 2022. In response to the report’s findings, Ms Sanderson highlighted the heartache which comes with the loss of life. She said there were several State Governments programs in place aiming to minimise drug-related harm, including the Drug Aware advertising campaign. “The Cook Government also funds the WA Naloxone Program which ensures people have access to life-saving medication which reverses the effects of opioid overdose and helps a person that has experienced an overdose to breathe normally,” she said. “Any overdose or death is a tragedy and affects individuals, families and communities.” In light of findings which showed unintentional deaths from drug overdoses were climbing across the country — even exceeding the national road toll — Pennington Institute chief executive John Ryan called on a national strategy to be developed to tackle the issue. When asked about whether she would support such a strategy, Ms Sanderson noted the State Government had created a new Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs in July focused on alcohol and other drugs reform. “Based within the Mental Health Commission, the office will drive coordination and intergovernmental and sector-wide relationships to achieve better outcomes for the Western Australian community,” she said.