Jump In Legal-drug Overdoses.

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Jump in legal-drug overdoses

By Carol Nader

April 23, 2004

 

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The number of people being treated by ambulance for overdosing on legal drugs has jumped by almost 30 per cent, figures show.

 

Ambulances were called for more than 11,000 incidents of non-fatal overdoses of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in Melbourne in the two years to September 2003, up almost 2500 on the previous two years.

 

The numbers are much greater than overdoses of illicit drugs - 1530, excluding heroin - which ambulances attended. Ambulances went to about 1400 heroin overdoses, and 6035 incidents of alcohol-related harm.

 

Women accounted for almost 60 per cent of legal drug overdoses, but in every other group men were more likely to overdose. In the case of heroin, three-quarters of those who had non-fatal overdoses were men.

 

The average age of those who overdose on legal drugs is 33. For illicit drugs it is about 27, and for alcohol-related harm about 38.

 

The figures, by the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, will be presented at an international drugs conference this week.

 

The Age.