The ACT has the highest rate of drug-induced deaths per capita in the country, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has found.
According to the latest available data, the estimated rate of drug-induced deaths in the ACT was 12 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to the national rate of 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
Lead researcher on the project, Amy Peacock, said another concerning trend identified was that the rate of overdose in the ACT increased from 2019 to 2020.
"These numbers are only preliminary; we do anticipate revised numbers coming out soon," she said.
The research found 52 per cent of the deaths were in males, and the age group most affected was 34- to 44-year-olds.
The most common drug types involved in the overdoses were anti-epileptic and anti-parkinsonism drugs, followed by opioids and antidepressants.
The exact reasons for the increase in drug-related deaths is unclear but Devin Bowles from the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT said there was an increase in heroin consumption across the territory in August of 2020.
"It's possible that there was a change in heroin supply that caught people off guard and unfortunately cost them their lives."
But, he added that it was hard to know what was behind the increase due to challenges collecting information.
'Stop the talk and get on with the action'
Marion McConnell lost her son to overdose 30 years ago.
She has since dedicated her life to advocacy for those suffering drug addiction, through her charity, Family and Friends for Drug Reform.
She can't believe the ACT is still having the same conversation around drug harm minimisation strategies as they were when she first started her charity.
"I think that underscores the urgency to stop the talk and get on with the action," she said.
"I mean, we know what programs save lives. The ACT's very progressive on debate, but very little action has been happening and we know there's… there's many things that we know will save lives that we could be doing."
Drug harm minimisation strategies include improved access to supervised consumption centres, greater education of how to safely use drugs, improved access to treatment clinics, and one significant change: decriminalisation.
Many advocates for drug law reform believe decriminalisation is an important step forward for recreational drug users.
"These people are already being punished by their drug addiction and law enforcement comes in on top of it, doesn't help. And I think our health services and that, are realising that," Ms McConnell said.
Mr Bowles echoed that sentiment.
"Decriminalisation would absolutely reduce drug-related harm. We know that drug decriminalisation does not increase consumption if its just for personal possession," he said.
"It does, however make people more able to seek treatment or harm reduction if they feel like they need it.
There is currently a bill set to be debated in the ACT surrounding the decriminalisation of small amounts of illegal substances.
Concerns decriminalisation could pave way for organised crime
But not everyone supports decriminalisation as a tactic for reducing drug-related harm.
"The ACT government needs to come up with a better solution. Just decriminalising drugs isn't the correct solution," Australian Federal Police Association representative Alex Caruana said.
He said police had concerns that decriminalising drugs would pave the way for gangs and organised crime to exploit drugs to make more money.
He instead proposed better education of the concerns around illicit substances, and creating larger drug support clinics and healthcare centres.
"Drug addiction is a health issue. We support that. We've said that from the beginning. We agree that something needs to change and the government needs to do more," he said.
"It's not a policing issue nor is it a decriminalisation issue… the legislation as it stands allows police officers to divert people currently to these help centres if they existed. The fact is they don't exist."
While both sides of the debate fundamentally agree with the requirement for treating addiction as a health issue and both want to see more support services across the territory, Ms McConnell believes the research points to decriminalisation.
