Calls for drug aid in state’s regions
A SHARP rise in drug-related hospitalisations in South Australia’s regions has prompted a call from the state’s peak drug and alcohol body for more resources in remote areas.
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre figures reveal there were 5157 admissions where the principle diagnosis was drug-related in 2019-20, compared with 4506 in 2018-19.
The 2019-20 figures meant 316 in every 100,000 people were hospitalised for drugs.
The highest rate of admissions was in outer regional areas – equating to 527 out of every 100,000 people presenting, compared with 500 out of every 100,000 in 2018-19.
More than half – or 53 per cent – of presentations were due to the person overdosing or having poisoning-related symptoms.
South Australia’s Network of Drug and Alcohol Services executive director, Michael White, said the reason for the high rate in regional areas was a lack of immediate access for treatment in those areas.
“People who have chronic dependence, many of them need to come to Adelaide for treatment, and that makes it extremely difficult if you’re coming from Maree or Coober Pedy or Quorn or Ceduna,” Mr White, pictured, said.
“So, you tend to have higher rates of critical issues because of the lack of immediate treatment response.”
Mr White said there were “good services” in Adelaide but more was needed in the regions.
“That means engaging local GPs at hospitals more effectively, and it means providing place-based services that meet the needs of local communities, and at the minute we don’t have that,” he said.
Mr White is calling for a statewide workforce development program to train rural medical staff with skills to handle patients seeking support with drug use problems.
The latest figures show a significant increase in the rate of hospitalisations related to amphetamines and other stimulants, as well as antidepressants and antiparkinson drugs – used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Mr White said the pandemic had changed people’s drug habits due to lacking availability of substances typically sourced overseas.
“With Covid, there’s been a significant shift in what’s available in the market, so you’re seeing people shift their use to all sorts of different drugs, so we’re seeing a much broader range of drugs presented as problematic,” he said.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT A DRUG PROBLEM CONTACT THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE ON 1300 13 13 40
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre figures reveal there were 5157 admissions where the principle diagnosis was drug-related in 2019-20, compared with 4506 in 2018-19.
The 2019-20 figures meant 316 in every 100,000 people were hospitalised for drugs.
The highest rate of admissions was in outer regional areas – equating to 527 out of every 100,000 people presenting, compared with 500 out of every 100,000 in 2018-19.
More than half – or 53 per cent – of presentations were due to the person overdosing or having poisoning-related symptoms.
South Australia’s Network of Drug and Alcohol Services executive director, Michael White, said the reason for the high rate in regional areas was a lack of immediate access for treatment in those areas.
“People who have chronic dependence, many of them need to come to Adelaide for treatment, and that makes it extremely difficult if you’re coming from Maree or Coober Pedy or Quorn or Ceduna,” Mr White, pictured, said.
“So, you tend to have higher rates of critical issues because of the lack of immediate treatment response.”
Mr White said there were “good services” in Adelaide but more was needed in the regions.
“That means engaging local GPs at hospitals more effectively, and it means providing place-based services that meet the needs of local communities, and at the minute we don’t have that,” he said.
Mr White is calling for a statewide workforce development program to train rural medical staff with skills to handle patients seeking support with drug use problems.
The latest figures show a significant increase in the rate of hospitalisations related to amphetamines and other stimulants, as well as antidepressants and antiparkinson drugs – used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Mr White said the pandemic had changed people’s drug habits due to lacking availability of substances typically sourced overseas.
“With Covid, there’s been a significant shift in what’s available in the market, so you’re seeing people shift their use to all sorts of different drugs, so we’re seeing a much broader range of drugs presented as problematic,” he said.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT A DRUG PROBLEM CONTACT THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG INFORMATION SERVICE ON 1300 13 13 40