New data reveals Bunbury region experienced average of 11 unintentional drug overdose deaths from 2018-2022

The Bunbury region experienced an average of 11 unintentional drug overdose deaths annually in recent years, as advocates call for more to be done to support drug harm reduction. New data from the Pennington Institute released ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day this Saturday shows the city and surrounding areas experienced 56 deaths because of unintentional drug overdoses between 2018 and 2022 — equivalent to 10.2 deaths per 100,000 people. The result is a more than 43 per cent increase on figures recorded between 2013 and 2017, and a nearly 70 per cent increase on figures from between 2008 and 2012. Only the Goldfields region recorded a significantly higher spike, while Bunbury’s increase was similar to that experienced in the Pilbara over the same five-year period. Greater Bunbury’s result was higher than other parts of the South West, with the Busselton-Margaret River and Manjimup regions respectively recording 24 and two deaths between 2018 and 2022. Regional Western Australia had 48 unintentional deaths because of drug overdoses in 2022, with stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine tying with uncategorisable pharmaceuticals as a factor in 17 of the deaths. The overall result in regional WA in 2022 is equivalent to 8.2 deaths per 100,000 people — a slightly better outcome than the 9.1 deaths per 100,000 recorded in the Perth metropolitan area. The data is revealed in the Pennington Institute’s annual overdose report, which showed unintentional deaths from drug overdoses across the country exceeding the national road toll. The not-for-profit organisation is calling for more to be done to prevent drug deaths, including improving access to opioid overdose medication naloxone and embracing drug testing. Chief executive John Ryan said he was tired of seeing overdose numbers rise every year. “Each time we publish this report it is so distressing to think of the increasing number of people and families consumed by this tragedy every year,” he said. Mr Ryan called on a national strategy to be developed and for political leaders to stop fear campaigns around drug use. “That approach is disingenuous and we know it doesn’t work,” he said. “Instead, we need our leaders to support and promote treatment-seeking behaviour.”