A NEW frontline support alliance is putting the spotlight on a publicly under-estimated drug culture across the region: prescription medication overdose.
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The majority of drug overdose deaths in Ballarat last year were from legal prescription medication.
Ballarat and District Drug Action Partnership wants to break the stigma and stereotypes about drug addiction, raising awareness the issue was not all about ice or heroin – it could also include seemingly everyday people leading functional lives.
People may wake up in the morning and feel they've had a good sleep, but they've actually been close to overdose.
- BADDAP's Claire Ryan
There were five deaths by drug overdose in Ballarat last year and deaths by accidental overdose in regional areas have almost doubled in six years.
BADDAP chairman Claire Ryan said it was important to generate strong community support by talking about painkiller addiction, to know how and when to seek help.
“We’re in different days to when heroin use was rife among younger people. Now people are presenting aged 30-plus and they’re being caught out overdosing on legal prescription medication,” Ms Ryan said.
“(Opioid-based painkillers) can act as a depressant. They can slow down breathing so it stops. People can wake up in the morning and think they’ve had a deep sleep but really, they’ve been in a dangerous position.”
Ms Ryan, who is Ballarat Community Health’s alcohol and other drug services team leader, said people may have been taking medications as prescribed by their doctor but not realise the affects of mixing with alcohol, other medications or lung disease.
BADDAP re-launched with International Overdose Awareness Day and while it plans to also address other drug-related issues, like ice, Ms Ryan said the timing was right to first focus on prescription overdose.
The partnership includes City of Ballarat, Department of Justice and Regulation, Uniting Care Ballarat, Ballarat Community Health, Berry Street, Sports Central, Victoria Police, Ballarat Health Services, Australian Community Support Organisation , Centacare, BADAC, Rotary Club of Ballarat South and Phoenix College.