By Vanessa Chircop
ALCOHOL is the most common substance abuse related call out that Ambulance Victoria attended in Hobsons Bay in 2009/2010 – with 110 call outs to the area.
Despite the figure Hobsons Bay came 25th out of 31 local government areas in Victoria for alcohol related attendances – down by 30 when compared to 2008/2009.
Though this figure may not seem surprising to some, the second most common call out might.
Benzodiazepine – sometimes colloquially know as ‘benzo’ – which often used for treating anxiety, insomnia, agitation, seizures, muscle spasms and alcohol withdrawal, was the second most common drug that saw 67 ambulances attend Hobsons Bay in 2009/2010 and 79 in 2008/2009.
Antipsychotics were next on the list according to the Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2009/2010 Annual Report.
The report, which part of an ongoing project undertaken by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, commenced in 1998 and is funded by State Government.
For both periods there were no incidences involving crystal methamphetamines and in 2009/2010 also none involving amphetamines.
Ecstasy was another drug that did not cause too much trouble in Hobsons Bay with no ambulance call outs in 2008/2009 and only five between 2009/2010.
Antidepressants however saw 29 ambulances called out in 2009/2010 down by five when compared with 2008/2009.
