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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Cait Kelly

Heroin overdoses surge in Melbourne as health services struggle to cope

 Needles are seen littering the pavement
Data shows every month an extra 1,000 people are accessing needle syringe programs in Melbourne’s city centre amid a current spike in heroin overdoses. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Stronger heroin on the streets of Melbourne is resulting in a spike in overdoses in the CBD, with community health organisations saying they are buckling under the increased strain.

The most recent data from the Victorian coroner’s court shows between July 2020 and June 2022 Melbourne’s city centre had the highest amount of fatal heroin overdoses of any local government area. There were 29 deaths, followed by 28 in Brimbank and 23 in the City of Yarra.

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