Fatal drug overdoses caused by heroin and methamphetamines in Wyndham rose in the last year, according to the Coroner’s Court of Victoria.
A total of 13 people died in Wyndham from a heroin overdose in 2024, an increase of six from 2023, marking the biggest single-year rise since 2015.
Deaths from methamphetamine rose from four to nine from 2023 to 2024.
Overall, the number of drug overdoses across all drug categories in 2024 was 20, the same as the previous year.
The corner’s report demonstrated that between 2015-2024 a total of 140 people died from drug overdoses in Wyndham.
Across the western suburbs there were 102 fatal overdoses last year, while statewide there were 584, the highest figure in a decade and 37 more than in 2023.
The amount of fatal overdoses involving illegal drugs also rose, accounting for 65 per cent of deaths in 2024, up from 58 per cent in 2023.
In 2015, illegal drugs accounted for less than half of all fatal overdoses.
Victorian State Coroner, Judge John Cain, said the rise in overdose deaths caused by illegal drugs was concerning and underscored the need for more harm reduction efforts.
“We have seen some genuine progress in harm reduction initiatives recently, including the commencement of Victoria’s drug checking trial,” Judge Cain said.
“Ensuring that Victorians can access support, treatment and education is vital.”
IPC Health chief executive Jayne Nelson said that stagnation does not indicate progress.
Ms Nelson also said that tackling overdoses requires a trauma-informed, community-based approach.
“Reducing alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependence requires a holistic, integrated, community-based response.”
“Every person’s circumstances are different and often complex, so there’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution.”
IPC warned that a changing drug landscape may mean that current approaches are not keeping up.
They said that the rise of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes—up to 1000 times stronger than heroin—has made the drug supply more unpredictable and dangerous.
These substances can be harder to reverse with naloxone and may increase the risk of fatal overdoses.
IPC Health highlighted that substance dependence is not a personal failing, rather, it’s often an adaptive response to financial hardship, social exclusion and other vulnerabilities.
