Calls for health-based solutions to drug issue as fatal overdoses increase

There are calls to see a health-based approach to assisting people addicted to drugs as the number of fatal overdoses and drug-related injuries sharply increase.

The Herald Sun reports that there have been three fatal overdoses in Melbourne in a matter of weeks.

However, Peter Wearne The Chair of the Yarra Drug and Alcohol Forum says only treating it as a health issue will improve the situation.

“I personally would like to see a regulated, controlled supply of illicit drugs, that’s managed through our health system like happens in other parts of the world including Switzerland,” he told Tom Elliott on 3AW Drive.

“You’d have a properly constructed health system, where people see doctors and specialists in the area of addiction, and addiction medicine.

“And their addiction would be managed through the regulation of pharmaceutical-grade drugs.

“And that might be heroin, it might be other drugs, but what we’re doing now is not getting better.

“It’s not getting better and it’s not improving the situation.”

Press PLAY to hear the full interview below

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