THE Coroners Court of Victoria has released a new report analysing the 4,551 drug overdose deaths in Victoria over the last decade.

The Victorian Overdose Deaths 2011-2020 report aims to support safe and open conversations about prevention strategies to curb drug and alcohol related harm.

Included in the report is a breakdown of overdose deaths by local government area.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper said recent trends in her electorate paint a bleak picture.

“In the last decade, 52 people have lost their lives to a drug overdose in the Mildura local government area,” Ms Cupper said.

“Concerningly, the highest death rate in Mildura was in 2020, where 10 people lost their lives to an overdose, compared to four overdose deaths the year prior.”

Ms Cupper said these figures highlight how imperative a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre is for the Mildura community.

“Based on 2020 figures, Mildura has the equal second highest overdose death total of any regional council area, only behind Latrobe,” she said.

“In that year Mildura had the same amount of overdose deaths as Bendigo and Ballarat, but we have half their population.”

Ms Cupper will ask the government to begin scoping out a suitable location for a rehab facility in Mildura.

“These figures only highlight fatalities, but don’t speak to the other serious harm drugs are wreaking upon our community,” she said.

“A locally based residential facility where drug users can heal and rehabilitate is incredibly important to improve health and societal outcomes in our area.

“What I want is a service providing a supportive and therapeutic road to recovery in a residential setting.”