Lisa Walklate has been working in the alcohol and other drugs services for 25 years. Back in 2000, the Senior Leader AOD Wellbeing Services at Bendigo Community Health Services began keeping a record of the clients who had died from overdose.
“After about the first ten years I stopped counting,” Lisa said. “I stopped counting at 60. Overdose awareness is so important. It touches many people’s hearts.”
This Friday, Lisa and her team will once again take part in Bendigo’s International Overdose Awareness Day event, to remember those who have died from drug overdose and to call for action to prevent further deaths.
BCHS is joining with the Salvation Army, Thorne Harbour Health, Australian Community Support Organisation, Youth Support + Advocacy Service, and Bendigo District Aboriginal Corporation under the theme of ‘One big family’ for the August 29 event.
The afternoon will feature live music, a free barbecue and representatives from each service on hand with resources, stories and support. It will include the lighting of 96 candles to represent the number of lives lost to overdose in just one month in Australia.
International Overdose Awareness Day is promoted by the Penington Institute. Each year, the institute also releases Australia’s Annual Overdose Report, which showed in 2024, for the first time since 2002, the rate of unintentional drug-induced deaths was the same in metro and regional areas, being 6.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
It also showed Victoria recorded the highest number of fatal overdoses by calendar year on record. A total 583 Victorians suffered a fatal overdose in 2024, 36 more than the previous year.
“Drug overdose is preventable,” Lisa said. “Practical strategies to reverse and prevent overdoses and reduce the harms associated with problematic drug use are available.
“One of the aims of International Overdose Awareness Day is to increase awareness of evidence-based strategies to help prevent harms and deaths from overdose.”
For example, Lisa said BCHS provides the free overdose reversal Naloxone or Nyxoid nasal spray to anyone who requests it.
She said people using opioids, and those with friends and family using opioids, should have the medication on hand for emergencies.
“Naloxone and Nyxoid is used in hospitals and by paramedics to ‘reverse’ the effects of an opioid overdose and can mean the difference between life and death,” Lisa said.
“Anyone who uses opioids and opioid-based medication is at risk of an overdose. This includes pharmaceutical opioid medications like oxycontin and methadone.
“People simply need to call our Mobile Drug Safety Worker to request the medication. Our team will deliver it and explain how to use it.”
The number to call is 1800 636 514 between 7.30pm and 10.45pm from Tuesday to Saturday. Or call 5406 1200 during business hours.
Lisa said International Overdose Awareness Day was the perfect opportunity to promote the medication, and the rest of BCHS’ drug support services.
“It’s also a chance to come together with other people in the community who understand what it means to lose someone to overdose,” she said.
The Bendigo event is on Friday, August 29 in the Bendigo Library Gardens from 12noon to 2pm.
