Local fatal overdoses are on a downward trend despite Victoria reaching a decade-high in deaths from overdose, according to a new report.
The Coroners Court of Victoria released a report looking into Victorian overdose deaths from 2015-2024.
Statewide, fatal overdoses reached a 10-year high with 584 Victorians dying from overdose last year, compared to 547 in 2023 and 552 in 2022.
Despite the Victorian increase, Wangaratta overdose related deaths have dropped in recent years.
From 2015-2020, 22 people died of overdose within the rural city compared to six deaths over the last four years, including two in 2024.
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Across the North East, 13 fatal overdoses were observed, with more than half (seven) occurring in the Wodonga area.
Wodonga recorded the most overdose deaths in total for the region over the past 10 years with 32, followed by Wangaratta (28) and Moira (24).
Alpine saw the least overdose deaths with three, with the most recent occurring in 2022.
As with previous years, most Victorian overdose deaths in 2024 (73.5 per cent) involved multiple drugs.
Regional Victoria accounted for around a quarter of overdose deaths last year, with the most seen in Greater Geelong (35 deaths) and Greater Bendigo (11 deaths).
A significant finding in the 2024 data was the continuing rise of illegal drug involvement in Victorian overdose deaths.
Nearly two-thirds of Victorian overdose deaths involved drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and GHB in 2024, up from 58.9pc in 2023 and 54.9pc in 2022.
There was a 30 per cent jump in methamphetamine-involved overdose deaths between 2023 (164 deaths) and 2024 (215 deaths).
Ten years ago, illegal drugs contributed to just under half of Victorian overdose deaths.
Most Victorian overdose deaths across the decade were accidental or unintentional (74.5pc) rather than suicides (19.3pc) or deaths where the deceased’s intent could not be determined (6.2pc).
The proportion of Victorian overdose deaths involving pharmaceutical drugs continued to gradually decline, accounting for 69.3pc of overdose deaths in 2024, down from 78pc in 2015.
The proportion of overdose deaths involving alcohol was reasonably consistent with previous years, at 24.1pc in 2024.
Men were on average twice as likely as women to die from overdose, and people aged between 35 and 54 are most at risk.
State Coroner Judge John Cain said no community in Victoria escapes the impact of overdose deaths.
“We have seen some genuine progress in harm reduction initiatives recently, including the commencement of Victoria’s drug checking trial,” he said.
“However, the concerning rise in overdose deaths and especially those involving illegal drugs is a stark reminder that we need to keep building on our harm reduction efforts.”
