Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jan 2001
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 News Limited
Contact:  PO Box 14999, Melbourne City, MC 8001 Australia
Fax: (03) 9292 2112
Website: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Author: Mark Buttler
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN KILLS OVER 1100

HEROIN has claimed more than 1100 lives in Victoria in the past four
years.

And Institute of Forensic Medicine figures indicate there is little
sign of improvement in the tragic toll, 330 people killed by the drug
last year.

It is likely more will be added to the tally when toxicology tests are
completed on people who died from suspected overdoses late in the year.

That could push the toll close to 1999's record of
359.

Tn 1998, 268 people died of heroin overdoses and the 1997 figure was
166, making a total of 1123 since that year.

The toll of recent years is exacerbated by hundreds of associated
deaths.

Among those are road-users killed in car accidents caused by
heroin-affected motorists, people slain in murders linked to the drug
and the suicides of despairing addicts.

Thousands of others have survived brushes with heroin death,
Metropolitan Ambulance Service figures show.

They reveal 3992 people were treated fore overdoses in Melbourne in
the 1999-2000 financial year.

The MAS figures show the average age of an overdose victim is just
under 27. People ranging in age from 14 tO 68 were treated in 1999-2000.

Traditional heroin hot-spots such as the city, Collingwood, Footscray,
St Kilda, Richmond and Dandenong remain the areas with the biggest
overdose rates.

One policeman told the Herald Sun young people seemed to hold less
fear of heroin than ever before, despite increased awareness of the
consequences.

"There's more drug education than ever out there," the officer
said.

"People aren't afraid, these days, to admit they're on
heroin.

"Community values have changed; the shame element seems to have gone
out of it."

Open Family youth worker Les Twentyman said he had seen no indication
of an easing in Victoria's heroin curse in the past 12 months.

"There's been a massive flood of drugs into the school system getting
kids when they're at a vulnerable age," Mr Twentyman said.

"We're going nowhere."

TRAGIC TOLL

Heroin deaths in Victoria in the past decade

1991 - 49

1992 - 98

1993 - 59

1994 - 84

1995 - 140

1996 - 169

1997 - 166

1998 - 268

1999 - 359

2000 - 330*
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake