A leading research institute has found that drug overdose deaths are increasing and that the death rate in regional Queensland is substantially higher than in Brisbane.
The 2018 annual overdose report released by the Penington Institute found that the continued growth in overdose deaths is linked to highly potent drugs, with ICE and heroin causing significant fatalities.
The LNP is committed to opening four new regional drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres in Townsville, Wide Bay, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast if it wins the 2020 election. The report found there were 301 accidental drug overdose deaths in Queensland in 2016, with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people in Greater Brisbane and 7.3 deaths per 100,000 in the regions.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said that more must be done to beat the ICE epidemic, particularly in regional Queensland.
“ICE has infiltrated our small towns and cities, it is destroying families and attacking the very soul and fabric of our communities,” Ms Frecklington said.
“This drug doesn’t discriminate, it decimates. Cars get stolen, houses are robbed and businesses are broken into just so people can feed their habit.
“There is nothing more heartbreaking than when someone from my community reaches out to tell me how ICE has devastated their family, extended family and livelihood.
“The LNP has a comprehensive ICE plan that provides more treatment, more education and awareness and four additional rehabilitation and detox centres across regional Queensland.
“This is a priority policy for me and my team and one that will help bridge the divide between our regions and the south-east.”
Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates said that the Palaszczuk Government’s ‘business as usual’ approach isn’t working.
“There is no new money or any new ideas and the one rehabilitation facility Labor are building in Rockhampton has been delayed,” Ms Bates said.
“Labor is failing to protect our regional communities from the horrors of ICE.”
