By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY has among the highest number of ambulance call-outs in the state for drug and alcohol related reasons.
The Trends in Alcohol and Drug Related Ambulance Attendances in Victoria report was released this month, and revealed that Casey Local Government Area (LGA) featured high on many of the lists for alcohol and drug-related attendances.
The report was put together by Eastern Health’s Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria.
Casey recorded the sixth highest number of call-outs for all alcohol and drug-related attendances with 1130 in 2011/12 – 795 of those being for drugs.
Casey LGA had the highest proportion of antidepressant and painkiller related ambulance attendances in the state.
There were significant increases in Casey for a number of drug-related callouts including ecstasy, heroin, GHB and antipsychotic drugs.
Casey was the third highest in the state for cannabis-related attendances with 46, coming in behind Melbourne and Greater Dandenong.
Call-outs for crystal methamphetamine (ice) doubled in Casey with 25 in 2011/12 compared to 11 the previous year.
Turning Point researcher Doctor Belinda Lloyd said crystal methamphetamine use had the potential to have severe mental and physical effects, particularly when used with other drugs. Alcohol continues to top the list of most drug-related call outs with 335 incidents in Casey in a year.
“Society’s seeming acceptance of excessive alcohol consumption has to stop,” Dr Lloyd said.
“The last thing you want to end up doing on a Saturday night is spend it in a hospital.”
Ambulance Victoria paramedic Simon Thomson said people could act irrationally and dangerously when they were on alcohol and, particularly on the weekends, it could be challenging, and in some cases, dangerous for the paramedics.
“Paramedics aren’t out to spoil the party for anyone, but we need people to understand the effects of alcohol and drugs can be considerable,” he said.
“The effect of taking drugs and alcohol together is that they can affect your conscious state, people can become unconscious and not be able to breathe properly.
“Essentially drugs and alcohol combined is a dangerous mix and it can kill you.
“You should call Triple Zero (000) if someone you’re with starts behaving irrationally or dangerously, is having problems with their breathing, or is losing consciousness.
Turning Point director Professor Dan Lubman said it was important the community worked together in addressing alcohol and drug-related harms.
“These data reinforce community concern that our drinking culture is out of control, and we have a growing methamphetamine problem,” he said.
“It is crucial that all arms of government and the community work together to minimise the escalating costs associated with alcohol and illicit drugs.”
Alcohol and Drug Related Ambulance Attendances in Casey 2011/12:
Alcohol: 335
Cannabis: 46
Ecstasy: 7
Crystal methamphetamine (ice): 25
Heroin: 35
Heroin overdose: 18
GHB: 16
Antidepressant: 78
Antipsychotic: 51
Painkillers: 120
