By LAURA WAKELY
TEN per cent of ambulance callouts for heroin overdoses are in Brimbank according to new research.
Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre last week released their report on trends in alcohol and drug-related ambulance attendances between 2010-2011.
It found 111, or ten per cent of heroin overdose ambulance callouts were in Brimbank, while heroin-related callouts in Brimbank accounted for nine per cent, or 183, of callouts across Melbourne.
A total of 1104 callouts in Brimbank were related to drugs and alcohol, with the area ranked seventh highest in the Melbourne.
Brimbank also had more drug and alcohol ambulance callouts than anywhere else in the West, with Maribyrnong ranked 14th highest with 870.
Alcohol was the highest callout reason, with 231 in Brimbank, but benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety, were also ranked high with 141 callouts.
Turning Point researcher Dr Belinda Lloyd said was important people understood the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
“The risk of injury and disease increases the more you drink,” Dr Lloyd said.
“Mixing alcohol and other drugs – either illegal drugs or some prescription drugs – can cause serious health problems.”
Ambulance Victoria Acting Group Manager Jonathan McKeown said there had been a slight reduction in callouts in Brimbank related to drugs and alcohol.
But he said the numbers were still a problem and would require a “whole of community response”.
“People need to remember that any delay in calling an ambulance for any drug overdose can cost lives,” Mr McKeown said.
“Our role is to save lives, not make judgments.
“Essentially if someone is acting outside their normal behaviour and you’re worried that they could be at risk, call Triple Zero (000).”
