They are the deaths often shunned by society — they are the drug overdose deaths.
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Figures from the Victorian Coroner’s Court show that in 2021, 500 people — 353 males and 147 females — lost their lives to a drug overdose.
That total was down from the 536 the previous year, and the figures contradicted claims that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns would lead to a spike in drug-related harm.
In Greater Shepparton six people lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2021, and over the past 10 years, 64 people died.
The annual rate of deaths from overdoses in Greater Shepparton has remained relatively steady over the past decade, apart from a peak of 11 in 2015 and a low of three in 2017.
Whatever the figure though, each data entry was a person with their own story, which does not always align with the stereotype.
“It certainly is from every walk of life and every age group. In fact, most of the overdose deaths occur in older age groups,” Goulburn Valley Alcohol and Drug Service program manager Cheryl Sobczyk said.
“We've had small increases in certain drugs, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), cocaine, and some are actually quite expensive, so not everyone can afford those particular drugs.”
Ms Sobczyk has worked in the field for three decades and said Shepparton’s drug problem was not worse than anywhere else, and not always visible.
“Most people use in their own homes. I think that's one of the things that is different in the regional cities,” she said.
“You don't see blatant drug use per se on the streets, and that's something significantly different to what happens in metropolitan Melbourne.”
Ms Sobczyk said the stigma associated with drug addiction was contributing to its harm by being a deterrent to people seeking help, whether that be for treatment or in emergency situations.
“One of the biggest risks is people actually using on their own,” she said.
“So, one of the campaigns over the years is to not use alone, and it really is around safety, making sure that there is someone who can look out for you.
“There’s always that stigma, though, if you have to ring an ambulance or ring the police, because you’re concerned, especially if there's any drugs on the premises, but when people attend, it's really about saving someone's life.”
Like many other categories, it is males who feature most in overdose deaths, consistently around two thirds across the decade in Victoria, and pharmaceuticals are the major cause in Greater Shepparton.
“The main issue still, as it relates to deaths, is actually around pharmaceuticals,” Ms Sobczyk said.
“So, prescribed prescriptions, and this is still one of the most significant issues in metropolitan Melbourne as well, and it's an issue for anywhere across rural regional Victoria and Australia.”
Ms Sobczyk said in the majority of overdose cases involving pharmaceuticals, the drug was a prescribed medicine.
She said health issues arose when monitoring under the safe scripts scheme was deficient or people used their drug of choice on top of their prescribed medications.
The treatment of people with substance addictions can often be mired in controversy, as debate swirls around the question of whether the issue should be handled through the justice or health systems.
Ms Sobczyk, who maintains drug addiction is a health issue and should be treated as such, said Shepparton’s greatest need in addressing addiction issues was improved pharmacotherapy services.
“We actually need greater access to pharmacotherapy prescribers around prescribing treatments for people who use opiates,” Ms Sobczyk said.
“That's a massive gap right across regional Victoria.”
Pharmacotherapy is the use of the likes of methadone and buprenorphine, prescribed by a medical professional such as a GP, to assist in the treatment of opioid addiction.
“We don't have any sort of publicly funded clinics anywhere in Victoria, which is the model that NSW has, and it's a massive gap. It's significant,” Ms Sobczyk said.
When it comes to drug overdoses, the illicit drugs heroin and methamphetamine often get a lot of attention, and they also contribute to deaths, but Ms Sobczyk said the most destructive substance across the broader community was freely available and even encouraged by societal norms.
“Alcohol,” Ms Sobczyk said.
“I think people don't realize that alcohol can contribute to a person's death because it's legal. It's so socially accepted.
“Alcohol continues to be one of the most significant issues, as an alcohol and drug service, that we have to deal with.
“The two leading drugs that we still manage, or people seek treatment for, are alcohol and cannabis.”
Ms Sobczyk said the full impact of alcohol abuse across society was huge.
“We're talking about overdose deaths here, but you know, we're still faced with the number of road trauma deaths and other deaths caused by alcohol and people don't realise that there are overdose deaths just from alcohol use, let alone road trauma, the domestic violence, loss of productivity in the workforce, the number of people that don't turn up to work increases, especially at this time of year,” she said.
“The actual damage that alcohol continues to cause our communities is much greater than all of the illicit drugs put together.”
Available alcohol and other drug services in the Goulburn Valley
If someone is in immediate danger call 000
Goulburn Valley Alcohol and Drug Service: Offers free alcohol and drug treatment, including residential and non-residential withdrawal, counselling, recovery support, day rehabilitation and addiction medicine specialist services, to adults (16+ years) in the Goulburn Valley region. http://www.gvhealth.org.au/services/alcohol-and-drug-service/ Goulburn Valley Health, Graham St, Shepparton. Direct line 1800 888 236 (24-hour advice).
Australian Community Support Agency: Is the Goulburn Valley catchment alcohol and other drugs intake provider and supports people to access local treatment services. www.acso.org.au Shepparton hub: 95-97 Welsford St, Shepparton. (03) 5823 0600.
Headspace: Offers free mental health (including alcohol and drug) services to young people between the ages of 12 and 25 https://headspace.org.au/ 129 High St, Shepparton. (03) 5823 8800.
Direct line: Statewide help line — 1800 888 236 (24-hour advice).
Primary Care Connect: Provides alcohol and drug counselling, family support, youth support and women’s supported accommodation. www.primarycareconnect.com.au/Home-Page 399 Wyndham St, Shepparton. (03) 5823 3200.
Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Woongi Unit: Crisis and support services, counselling, preventative and addiction treatment, culturally appropriate health information and advice, referrals to specialists and families and community assistance. rumbalara.org.au/service/alcohol-and-other-drugs/ 20 Rumbalara Rd, Mooroopna. (03) 5820 0035.
Odyssey House Victoria: A statewide specialist treatment organisation dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who experience significant or long-term problems from alcohol and other drug use. Has an overdose prevention worker. www.odyssey.org.au 27 Wyndham St, Shepparton. (03) 8521 6501.
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Senior Journalist