31st of July 2024, 6:45pm
Legislative Council of Victoria, Melbourne
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My adjournment is directed to the Minister for Mental Health, the Honourable Ingrid Stitt. The impact of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and nitazenes, has been devastating communities around the world. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, and nitazenes are up to 500 times more potent. In the United States synthetic opioids are the leading cause of death of individuals aged between 18 and 49 and were responsible for 70 per cent of the 112,000 drug-related deaths in 2023.
While Victoria is yet to experience the devastation these drugs have inflicted on other communities, the increasing number of large seizures in recent years suggests that it is only a matter of time.
Our health system is woefully underprepared to deal with the anticipated surge in synthetic opioid overdoses. Victoria needs to develop a plan in response to these risks as part of a statewide alcohol and other drugs strategy.
Happily, the outstanding team at the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association have teamed up with the equally brilliant Harm Reduction Victoria crew and done that very thing.
Their joint endeavour entitled “Keeping Victorians Safe: We Need a Potent Synthetic Opioids Plan” provides an excellent starting point for the development of an optimal response to prevent an overdose crisis, overwhelming our already stretched healthcare systems.
A potent synthetic opioids plan with detailed policies and measures for the implementation of a rapid community and healthcare response would ensure Victoria is prepared for the spread of these drugs.
One thing the plan acknowledges – and Legalise Cannabis Victoria is in furious agreement over this – is that the long-term prohibition of various substances has been a significant driver in the growth of a durable and highly profitable illicit drug market.
Prohibition does not restrict supply or demand and does little to reduce harm. A regulated drug market is the most effective way of dismantling the illicit drug market, thus diminishing the threat of potent synthetic opioids and other dangerous drugs.
So the action I seek is that the minister develop a potent synthetic opioids plan as part of Victoria’s alcohol and other drugs strategy to ensure the harms from the inevitable surge of potent synthetic opioids in Victoria are mitigated.
[ENDS]
