Trends in alcohol and drug related ambulance

Transcription

Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug Related Ambulance
Attendances
TRENDS IN ALCOHOL AND DRUG
RELATED AMBULANCE ATTENDANCES
IN VICTORIA 2012/13
Belinda Lloyd
Sharon Matthews
Caroline X.Gao
December 2013
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug
Related Ambulance Attendances
TRENDS IN ALCOHOL AND
DRUG RELATED
AMBULANCE
ATTENDANCES IN
VICTORIA 2012/13
Belinda Lloyd
Sharon Matthews
Caroline X.Gao
May 2014
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug Related Ambulance Attendances is a collaboration between Turning
Point and Ambulance Victoria, and is funded by the Victorian Department of Health
Trends in alcohol and drug related ambulance attendances in Victoria: 2012/13. Copyright 2014
State of Victoria. Produced with permission from the Victorian Minister for Mental Health.
Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without
permission.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be
reproduced by any process without permission. Copyright enquiries can be made to the
Communications and Publications Unit, Turning Point, 54-62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065,
Australia. ‘Ambo project: alcohol and drug related ambulance attendances’ is funded by the Mental
Health, Drugs and Regions Division of the Department of Health.
Published by Turning Point
May 2014
ISBN: 978-1-74001-011-5 (ebook)
The correct citation for this publication is: Lloyd B., Matthews S., Gao X.C. (2014). Trends in alcohol
and drug related ambulance attendances in Victoria: 2012/13. Fitzroy, Victoria: Turning Point
Contents
Contents ........................................................................................................................... v
List of Tables ................................................................................................................... ix
List of Figures .................................................................................................................. xi
List of Maps ................................................................................................................... xiii
Preface ...........................................................................................................................xiv
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ xv
Acronyms .......................................................................................................................xvi
Summary .......................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 1: Introduction..................................................................................................... 6
Non-fatal versus fatal heroin overdose ..................................................................................... 6
Ambulance service records ....................................................................................................... 6
The current report .................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 2: Methods .......................................................................................................... 8
Data generated from VACIS® .................................................................................................... 8
Data auditing and quality control.............................................................................................. 8
Definition of drug involvement/overdose used in this report..................................................... 9
Mapping of alcohol- and drug-related ambulance attendances ................................................ 11
Population estimates ............................................................................................................. 11
Chapter 3: Alcohol-Related Attendances (Alcohol Only)................................................... 12
Characteristics of alcohol-related attendances ........................................................................ 12
Day of week and time of day of alcohol-related attendances ................................................... 12
Alcohol-related attendances in local government areas........................................................... 14
Trends over time in alcohol-related attendances ..................................................................... 20
Chapter 4: Cannabis-Related Attendances ...................................................................... 22
Characteristics of cannabis-related attendances ...................................................................... 22
Day of week and time of day of cannabis-related attendances ................................................ 22
Cannabis-related attendances in local government areas ........................................................ 24
Trends over time in cannabis-related attendances .................................................................. 30
Chapter 5: Ecstasy-Related Attendances ......................................................................... 32
Characteristics of ecstasy-related attendances ........................................................................ 32
Day of week and time of day of ecstasy-related attendances ................................................... 32
Ecstasy-related attendances in local government areas ........................................................... 34
Trends over time in ecstasy-related attendances..................................................................... 38
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report
Page v
Chapter 6 All Amphetamine-Related Attendances ........................................................... 40
Characteristics of all amphetamine-related attendances ......................................................... 40
Day of week and time of day of all amphetamine-related attendances .................................... 41
All amphetamine-related attendances in local government areas ............................................ 42
Trends over time in all amphetamine-related attendances ...................................................... 48
Chapter 7 Crystal Methamphetamine-Related Attendances ............................................ 50
Characteristics of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances ........................................... 50
Day of week and time of day of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances...................... 51
Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances in local government areas ............................. 52
Trends over time in crystal methamphetamine-related attendances ....................................... 54
Chapter 8: Other Amphetamine-Related Attendances ..................................................... 56
Characteristics of other amphetamine-related attendances..................................................... 56
Day of week and time of day of other amphetamine-related attendances ............................... 56
Other amphetamine-related attendances in local government areas ....................................... 58
Trends over time in other amphetamine-related attendances ................................................. 59
Chapter 9: Benzodiazepine-Related Attendances ............................................................ 61
Characteristics of benzodiazepine-related attendances ........................................................... 61
Day of week and time of day of benzodiazepine-related attendances ...................................... 61
Benzodiazepine-related attendances in local government areas .............................................. 63
Trends over time in benzodiazepine-related attendances ........................................................ 69
Chapter 10: Inhalant-Related Attendances ...................................................................... 71
Characteristics of inhalant-related attendances ...................................................................... 71
Day of week and time of day of inhalant-related attendances ................................................. 71
Inhalant-related attendances in local government areas ......................................................... 73
Trends over time in inhalant-related attendances ................................................................... 77
Chapter 11: All Heroin-Related Attendances ................................................................... 79
Characteristics of all heroin-related attendances ..................................................................... 79
Day of week and time of day of all heroin-related attendances ............................................... 79
All heroin-related attendances in local government areas ....................................................... 81
Trends over time in all heroin-related attendances ................................................................. 86
Chapter 12: Heroin Overdose (Responding to Naloxone) Attendances ............................. 88
Characteristics of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) ............................... 88
Day of week and time of day of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) .......... 88
Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) in local government areas .................. 90
Trends over time in heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) ............................ 91
Page vi
Chapter 13: Other Heroin-Related Attendances ............................................................... 93
Characteristics of other heroin-related attendances ................................................................ 93
Day of week and time of day of other heroin-related attendances ........................................... 93
Other heroin-related attendances in local government areas .................................................. 95
Trends over time in other heroin-related attendances............................................................. 96
Chapter 14: GHB-Related Attendances ............................................................................ 98
Characteristics of GHB-related attendances ............................................................................ 98
Day of week and time of day of GHB-related attendances ....................................................... 98
GHB-related attendances in local government areas ............................................................. 100
Trends over time in GHB-related attendances ....................................................................... 105
Chapter 15: Anticonvulsant-Related Attendances.......................................................... 107
Characteristics of anticonvulsant-related attendances........................................................... 107
Day of week and time of day of anticonvulsant-related attendances ..................................... 107
Anticonvulsant-related attendances in local government areas ............................................. 109
Trends over time in anticonvulsant-related attendances ....................................................... 114
Chapter 16: Antidepressant-Related Attendances ......................................................... 116
Characteristics of antidepressant-related attendances .......................................................... 116
Day of week and time of day of antidepressant-related attendances ..................................... 116
Antidepressant-related attendances in local government areas ............................................. 118
Trends over time in antidepressant-related attendances ....................................................... 124
Chapter 17 Antipsychotic-Related Attendances ............................................................. 126
Characteristics of antipsychotic-related attendances ............................................................. 126
Day of week and time of day of antipsychotic-related attendances........................................ 126
Antipsychotic-related attendances in local government areas ............................................... 128
Trends over time in antipsychotic-related attendances ......................................................... 134
Chapter 18 Opioid Analgesic-Related Attendances ........................................................ 136
Characteristics of opioid analgesic-related attendances......................................................... 136
Day of week and time of day of opioid analgesic-related attendances ................................... 136
Opioid analgesic-related attendances in local government areas ........................................... 138
Trends over time in opioid analgesic-related attendances ..................................................... 144
Chapter 19: Other Analgesic-Related Attendances ........................................................ 146
Characteristics of other analgesic-related attendances .......................................................... 146
Day of week and time of day of other analgesic-related attendances ..................................... 146
Other analgesic-related attendances in local government areas ............................................ 148
Trends over time in other analgesic-related attendances....................................................... 154
Page vii
Chapter 20: Cocaine-Related Attendances..................................................................... 156
Characteristics of cocaine-related attendances...................................................................... 156
Day of week and time of day of cocaine-related attendances ................................................ 156
Cocaine-related attendances in local government areas ........................................................ 158
Trends over time in cocaine-related attendances .................................................................. 162
Chapter 21: Summary of findings .................................................................................. 164
References.................................................................................................................... 168
Appendix ...................................................................................................................... 169
Page viii
List of Tables
Table 1: Alcohol- and drug-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria, and Victoria 2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Table 2: Numbers of metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria attendances by drug - 2012/13
compared with 2011/12 .......................................................................................................................... 2
Table 3: Characteristics of alcohol-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................ 12
Table 4: Numbers of alcohol-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 15
Table 5: Numbers of alcohol-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................................... 16
Table 6: Characteristics of cannabis-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13.......................................... 22
Table 7: Numbers of cannabis-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 25
Table 8: Numbers of cannabis-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................................... 26
Table 9: Characteristics of ecstasy-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................ 32
Table 10: Numbers of ecstasy-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 34
Table 11: Numbers of ecstasy-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................................... 34
Table 12: Characteristics of all amphetamine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................... 40
Table 13: Numbers of all amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 43
Table 14: Numbers of all amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 44
Table 15: Characteristics of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............ 50
Table 16: Numbers of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by local government area in
metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................................................................. 53
Table 17: Numbers of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional
Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................. 54
Table 18: Characteristics of other amphetamine attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................. 56
Table 19: Numbers of other amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 58
Table 20: Numbers of other amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria
- 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 59
Table 21: Characteristics of benzodiazepine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................. 61
Table 22: Numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 64
Table 23: Numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 65
Table 24: Characteristics of inhalant-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................ 71
Table 25: Numbers of inhalant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 73
Table 26: Numbers of inhalant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................................... 73
Table 27: Characteristics of heroin-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................... 79
Table 28: Numbers of all heroin-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 82
Table 29: Numbers of all heroin-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................................... 82
Table 30: Characteristics of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) - 2011/12 and 2012/13 88
Table 31: Numbers of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by local government area in
Page ix
regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................... 91
Table 33: Characteristics of other heroin-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................. 93
Table 34: Numbers of other heroin-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 95
Table 35: Numbers of other heroin-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 96
Table 36: Characteristics of GHB-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................... 98
Table 37: Numbers of GHB-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 101
Table 38: Numbers of GHB-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ............................................................................................................................................... 101
Table 39: Characteristics of anticonvulsant-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................ 107
Table 40: Numbers of anticonvulsant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 109
Table 41: Numbers of anticonvulsant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 110
Table 42: Characteristics of antidepressant-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................ 116
Table 43: Numbers of antidepressant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 119
Table 44: Numbers of antidepressant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 120
Table 45: Characteristics of antipsychotic-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13............................... 126
Table 46: Numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 129
Table 47: Numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 130
Table 48: Characteristics of opioid analgesic-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................... 136
Table 49: Numbers of opioid analgesic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 up to here .................................................................................... 139
Table 50: Numbers of opioid analgesic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 140
Table 51: Characteristics of other analgesic-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13............................ 146
Table 52: Numbers of other analgesic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 149
Table 53: Numbers of other analgesic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 150
Table 54: Characteristics of cocaine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13........................................ 156
Table 55: Numbers of cocaine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 158
Page x
List of Figures
Figure 1: Proportion of alcohol-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 13
Figure 2: Proportion of alcohol-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 3: Alcohol-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................... 20
Figure 4: Alcohol-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ............................................................. 21
Figure 5: Proportion of cannabis-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 23
Figure 6: Proportion of cannabis-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................. 23
Figure 7: Cannabis-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................................... 30
Figure 8: Cannabis-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 .......................................................... 31
Figure 9: Proportion of ecstasy-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 33
Figure 10: Proportion of ecstasy-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................. 33
Figure 11: Ecstasy-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ..................................................... 38
Figure 12: Ecstasy-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ........................................................... 39
Figure 13: Proportion of all amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 41
Figure 14: Proportion of all amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................. 42
Figure 15: All amphetamine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ..................................... 48
Figure 16: All amphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13 ......................................... 49
Figure 17: Proportion of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week,
Figure 18: Proportion of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, regional
Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................. 52
Figure 19: Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................... 55
Figure 20: Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13 .......................... 55
Figure 21: Proportion of other amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 57
Figure 22: Proportion of other amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 57
Figure 23: Other amphetamine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ................................ 59
Figure 24: Other amphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ...................................... 60
Figure 25: Proportion of benzodiazepine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................ 62
Figure 26: Proportion of benzodiazepine-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 62
Figure 27: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13........................................ 69
Figure 28: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13 ........................................... 70
Figure 29: Proportion of inhalant-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 72
Figure 30: Proportion of inhalant-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................................... 72
Figure 31: Inhalant-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ................................................... 77
Figure 32: Inhalant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ......................................................... 78
Figure 33: Proportion of heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 80
Figure 34: Proportion of heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................. 80
Figure 35: Heroin-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................... 86
Page xi
Figure 36: Heroin-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ............................................................ 87
Figure 37: Proportion of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by time of day of week,
regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................... 89
Figure 39: Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......... 91
Figure 40: Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13 .............. 92
Figure 41: Proportion of other heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 94
Figure 42: Proportion of other heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 94
Figure 43: Other heroin-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................ 96
Figure 44: Other heroin-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 .................................................. 97
Figure 45: Proportion of GHB-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 ............................................................................................................................ 99
Figure 46: Proportion of GHB-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13 ................................................................................................................................................. 99
Figure 47: GHB-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ....................................................... 105
Figure 48: GHB-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13.............................................................. 106
Figure 49: Proportion of anticonvulsant-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 108
Figure 50: Proportion of anticonvulsant-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 108
Figure 51: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ....................................... 114
Figure 52: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ............................................. 115
Figure 53: Proportion of antidepressant-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 117
Figure 54: Proportion of antidepressant-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 117
Figure 55: Antidepressant-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................... 124
Figure 56: Antidepressant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ............................................ 125
Figure 57: Proportion of antipsychotic-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne
- 2011/12 and 2012/13 ........................................................................................................................ 127
Figure 58: Proportion of antipsychotic-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 127
Figure 59: Antipsychotic-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ......................................... 134
Figure 60: Antipsychotic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ............................................... 135
Figure 61: Proportion of opioid analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 137
Figure 62: Proportion of opioid analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 137
Figure 63: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13..................................... 144
Figure 64: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ........................................... 145
Figure 65: Proportion of other analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................................................................................... 147
Figure 66: Proportion of other analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 147
Figure 67: Other analgesic-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 ...................................... 154
Figure 68: Other analgesic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ............................................ 155
Figure 69: Proportion of cocaine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13 .......................................................................................................................... 157
Figure 70: Proportion of cocaine-related attendances by time of day of week - 2011/12 and 2012/13........ 157
Figure 71: Cocaine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................................. 162
Figure 72: Cocaine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13 ........................................................ 163
Page xii
List of Maps
Map 1: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ........................... 17
Map 2: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ............................... 18
Map 3: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13................... 19
Map 4: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ........................ 27
Map 5: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ............................ 28
Map 6: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian postcodes, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ............... 29
Map 7: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .......................... 35
Map 8: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 .............................. 36
Map 9: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .................. 37
Map 10: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .............. 45
Map 11: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 .................. 46
Map 12: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ...... 47
Map 13: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ............ 66
Map 14: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victoria LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ................. 67
Map 15: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .... 68
Map 16: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13........................ 74
Map 17: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13............................ 75
Map 18: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ............... 76
Map 19: Heroin-related attendances by metropolitan Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .... 83
Map 20: Heroin-related attendances by regional Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ................ 84
Map 21: Heroin-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .................. 85
Map 22: GHB-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ............................ 102
Map 23: GHB-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ................................ 103
Map 24: GHB-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13.................... 104
Map 25: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ........... 111
Map 26: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ............... 112
Map 27: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
............................................................................................................................................................ 113
Map 28: Antidepressant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13........... 121
Map 29: Antidepressant -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 .............. 122
Map 30: Antidepressant-related attendances Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ....... 123
Map 31: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ............. 131
Map 32: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ................. 132
Map 33: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ..... 133
Map 34: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ......... 141
Map 35: Opioid analgesic -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 ............ 142
Map 36: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 . 143
Map 37: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .......... 151
Map 38: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 .............. 152
Map 39: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .. 153
Map 40: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 ...................... 159
Map 41: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13 .......................... 160
Map 42: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13 .............. 161
Map 43: LGAs of outer metropolitan Melbourne ........................................................................................ 169
Map 44: LGAs of inner metropolitan Melbourne ......................................................................................... 170
Map 45: LGAs of regional Victoria ................................................................................................................ 171
Page xiii
Preface
This examination of non-fatal drug related events attended by ambulance in Victoria is a collaborative
project between Turning Point’s Population Health Research Program and Ambulance Victoria, and is
funded by the Victorian Department of Health.
Turning Point strives to promote and maximise the health and wellbeing of individuals and
communities living with and affected by alcohol and other drug-related harms. Our work is essential to
understanding the complexities of alcohol and drug use in our community and in developing effective
approaches to prevent and treat dependence and other related harms.
Turning Point was opened in 1994 and operates from a unique organisational model that combines
excellence in research with best practice approaches to education and training, alongside clinical
service delivery. This model means we operate from within the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector
while benefiting from specialist skills and knowledge across research, education, and service delivery
disciplines.
The organisation amalgamated with public health provider Eastern Health in October 2009 and is
formally affiliated with Monash University. Turning Point is part of the International Network of Drug
Treatment and Rehabilitation Resource Centres for The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) and is a member of the International Harm Reduction Association. The organization is
unique among alcohol and drug agencies for its mission to combine clinical services with research
and training, and brings together a broad base of expert, experienced professionals in each of these
three areas. The staff at Turning Point have specialist expertise in the design, implementation and
monitoring of alcohol and drug related research and evaluation, and have experience in the
development of practice standards and guidelines which have been packaged for use by a range of
services.
Turning Point has established a number of innovative programs and plays a key role in influencing
government policy. A range of clinical services are provided by the organization including a state-wide
24-hour telephone assessment and referral service (DirectLine), withdrawal, opioid pharmacotherapy,
and counselling treatment programs. Among its achievements, Turning Point has provided key input
to advisory bodies such as the Premier’s Drug Advisory Council and the Premier’s Drug Prevention
Council. Current research projects include the examination of the patterns of alcohol and other drug
use and related harm in the Victorian community, and the development and evaluation of a number of
treatment programs.
The Turning Point Population Health Research Program is responsible for investigating patterns of
alcohol and drug use and related harm using population-based datasets available in Victoria. The staff
in the Population Health Research team currently include: Belinda Lloyd, Mohajer Abbass Hameed,
Cass Connor, Annie Haines, Caroline Gao, Cathie Garrard, Cherie Heilbronn, Jessica Killian, Liliana
Laskaris, Heather Laurie, Elizabeth Le, Daniel Leung, Sharon Matthews, Lisa Meyenn, Elke Mitchell,
Rowan Ogeil, Melissa Reed, Andrew Rodsted, Adam Scott, Kay van Namen and Merran Waterfall.
The Population Health Research team aims is to examine patterns of drug use and harm in Victoria
and provide this information to policy makers, alcohol and drug workers, as well as other interested
groups and individuals. Current projects include the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Statistics Series.
Page xiv
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Cathie Garrard, Annie Haines, Alexa Hayley, Cherie Heilbronn, Liliana
Laskaris, Heather Laurie, Elizabeth Le, Daniel Leung, Josephine Mascaro, Lisa Meyenn, Elke
Mitchell, Melissa Reed, Andrew Rodsted, Lydia Soh, Julie Tennant, Qian Wang, Merran Waterfall and
Julie Wood, for their valuable contribution.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances - 2012/13 Annual Report
Page xv
Acronyms
ABS
Australian Bureau of Statistics
AOD
Alcohol and Other Drug
ERP
Estimated Resident Population
GHB
Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate
LGA
Local Government Area
PCR
Patient Care Record
PWID
People Who Inject Drugs
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances - 2012/13 Annual Report
Page xvi
Summary
Table 1 provides a summary of drug- and alcohol-related events attended by ambulance in Victoria in
2012/13. Alcohol-related attendances were most common in both metropolitan Melbourne and
regional Victoria, with benzodiazepines the second most common drug category involved in
ambulance attendances across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Non-opioid analgesics
also featured, with this category ranking third for regional Victorian alcohol- and drug-related
ambulance attendances, and fourth for metropolitan Melbourne attendances (with all heroin-related
attendances ranking third in metropolitan Melbourne). Attendances related to antidepressants,
antipsychotics and cannabis were also common across Victoria in 2012/13. In 2012/13, population
rates of attendances were higher for cannabis, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antipsychotics,
opioid analgesics and other analgesics in regional Victoria than in metropolitan Melbourne.
Table 1: Alcohol- and drug-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria, and Victoria
- 2012/13
Alcohol
Metropolitan
Melbourne
N (rate)**
Regional
Victoria
N (rate)**
11159 (2665.9)
3692 (2559.9)
14902 (2650.0)
1416 (338.2)
554 (384.2)
1975 (351.2)
Cannabis
Ecstasy
All Amphetamines
Crystal Methamphetamine
Other Amphetamines
Benzodiazepines
Inhalants
All Heroin
All
Victoria
N* (rate)**
306 (73.1)
54 (37.4)
360 (64.0)
1394 (333.1)
312 (216.6)
1708 (303.7)
1112 (265.7)
231 (159.8)
1344 (239.0)
282 (67.4)
82 (56.8)
364 (64.7)
3159 (754.6)
808 (560.0)
3979 (707.6)
122 (29.1)
31 (21.5)
153 (27.2)
1901 (454)
102 (70.9)
2003 (356.2)
Heroin (with response to naloxone)
960 (229.4)
38 (26.1)
998 (177.5)
Other Heroin
940 (224.6)
65 (44.8)
1005 (178.7)
578 (138.1)
42 (29.0)
620 (110.3)
GHB
Anticonvulsants
230 (54.9)
104 (72.1)
334 (59.4)
Antidepressants
1221 (291.6)
487 (337.6)
1710 (304.1)
Antipsychotics
1145 (273.5)
425 (294.7)
1574 (279.9)
Opioid Analgesics
711 (169.8)
350 (242.4)
1065 (189.4)
Other Analgesics
1584 (378.5)
603 (418.1)
2193 (390.0)
122 (29.1)
10 (6.9)
132 (23.5)
Cocaine
*Total N for Victoria may equal more than the sum of metropolitan and regional cases as some attendances may not
contain location information
** per 1,000,000 population
Table 2 provides a summary of drug- and alcohol-related events attended by ambulance in
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in 2011/12 and 2012/13, and the change between
2011/12 and 2012/13. In metropolitan Melbourne, large increases (greater than ten per cent) were
noted
in
alcohol-,
cannabis-,
ecstasy-,
all
amphetamine-,
crystal
methamphetamine-,
benzodiazepine-, GHB-, anticonvulsant-, antidepressant-, antipsychotic-, opioid analgesic-, non-opioid
analgesic- and cocaine-related attendances. There was a smaller increase in other heroin-related
attendances. A large decrease (greater than ten per cent) was noted in attendances for heroin (with
response to naloxone). With the exception of inhalant- and GHB-related attendances, the change
Page 1
patterns in regional Victoria were broadly the same as in metropolitan Melbourne.
Table 2: Numbers of metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria attendances by drug - 2012/13
compared with 2011/12
Metropolitan Melbourne
2011/12
N
2012/13
N
Regional Victoria
% Change
from 2011/12
2011/12
N
2012/13
N
% Change
from 2011/12
8824
11159
+27%
2594
3692
+42%
Cannabis
936
1416
+51%
350
554
+58%
Ecstasy
191
306
+61%
33
54
+62%
All Amphetamines
880
1394
+59%
166
312
+89%
592
1112
+88%
77
231
+198%
Alcohol
Crystal Methamphetamine
Other Amphetamines
Benzodiazepines
288
282
-2%
88
82
-7%
2694
3159
+17%
727
808
+11%
135
122
-10%
14
31
+121%
1964
1901
-3%
106
102
-4%
1104
960
-13%
44
38
-15%
860
940
+9%
62
65
+4%
GHB
407
578
+42%
41
42
+3%
Anticonvulsants
197
230
+17%
89
104
+18%
Antidepressants
1060
1221
+15%
435
487
+12%
964
1145
+19%
337
425
+26%
Inhalants
All Heroin
Heroin (with response to
naloxone)
Other Heroin
Antipsychotics
Opioid Analgesics
458
711
+55%
288
350
+21%
Other Analgesics
1149
1584
+38%
451
603
+34%
88
122
+39%
7
10
+47%
Cocaine
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are weighted.
Alcohol: Daily numbers of alcohol-related attendances were significantly higher in 2012/13 than in
2011/12 in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The mean age of patients attended
increased in 2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In metropolitan Melbourne and
regional Victoria, the proportion of cases occurring in public spaces decreased when compared with
2011/12. In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportion of alcohol-related
attendances where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in 2012/13 when
compared with the previous year. Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest
proportion of alcohol-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne. In regional Victoria, Greater
Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of alcohol-related ambulance attendances in
2012/13, followed by Latrobe and Ballarat, while Yarriambiack and Warnambool had the highest rates
of attendances.
Alcohol involvement in other drug-related attendances: In metropolitan Melbourne, there was a
large decrease (ten percentage points or greater) in the proportion of ecstasy-related attendances
where alcohol was also involved when compared with the preceding year. For all other drug
categories, there were smaller decreases or increases in the proportions of attendances where
alcohol was also involved. In regional Victoria, large decreases were seen in the proportions of
cannabis-, ecstasy-, antidepressant- and cocaine-related attendances where alcohol was also
involved when compared with the preceding year, while a large increase was noted in the proportion
of inhalant-related attendances where alcohol was also involved. For all other drug categories, there
Page 2
were smaller decreases or increases in the proportions of attendances where alcohol was also
involved.
Cannabis: Across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily number of cannabis-related
attendances in 2012/13 increased significantly when compared with the preceding year. In both
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportions of cannabis-related attendances where
alcohol was involved decreased while the proportion where the patient was transported to hospital
increased in 2012/13 when compared with the previous year. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three
LGAs with the highest rates for cannabis-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne,
Frankston and Port Phillip. In regional Victoria, Latrobe and Greater Shepparton had the highest
population rates in 2012/13.
Ecstasy: In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, there were significant increases in the
daily numbers of ecstasy-related attendances in 2012/13 when compared with 2011/12. The age of
patients attended decreased in metropolitan Melbourne while the age increased in regional Victoria in
2012/13 compared with 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the proportion of attendances where
alcohol was also involved decreased while the proportion of attendances where the patient was
transported to hospital increased. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for
ecstasy-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Stonnington and Port Phillip. In
regional Victoria, Greater Bendigo and Greater Geelong had the highest population rates in 2012/13.
All amphetamines: In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily number of all
amphetamine-related attendances and the proportion of events co-attended by police in 2012/13
increased significantly when compared with the preceding year. In metropolitan Melbourne, there was
a significant decrease in the proportion of cases where alcohol was also involved, while there was a
significant increase in the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital in 2012/13
when compared with 2011/12. In regional Victoria, the proportion of events occurring in public spaces
increased significantly. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for all
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra. In
regional Victoria, Latrobe, Moorabool and Greater Shepparton had the highest population rates of all
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Crystal
methamphetamine:
In
2012/13
across
Victoria,
the
daily
number
of
crystal
methamphetamine-related attendances was significantly higher than in 2011/12. In metropolitan
Melbourne, significant decreases were seen in the proportion of cases where alcohol was involved,
and where events occurred in public spaces, while significant increases were noted in the proportion
of events co-attended by police, and cases where the patient was transported to hospital. In regional
Victoria, there was a significant increase in the proportion of events co-attended by police. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the top three ranking LGAs in the proportion of crystal methamphetaminerelated ambulance attendances were Melbourne, Casey and Hume. In regional Victoria, Latrobe,
Moorabool and Horsham had the highest population rates of crystal methamphetamine-related
ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Other amphetamines: In metropolitan Melbourne, the proportion of cases where the patient was
transported to hospital was significantly higher than in 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three
LGAs with the highest rates for other amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were
Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra. In regional Victoria, Greater Shepparton and Latrobe had the
highest population rates of other amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Page 3
Benzodiazepines: Across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily numbers of
benzodiazepine-related attendances were higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12. Significant decreases
were seen in the proportions of events occurring in public spaces, while significant increases were
evident in the proportions of events co-attended by police and in cases where the patient was
transported to hospital. The mean age of patients increased significantly while the proportion of male
patients decreased significantly in metropolitan Melbourne. The proportion of cases involving alcohol
decreased significantly in regional Victoria In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest
rates for benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Frankston and
Melbourne. In regional Victoria, East Gippsland, Benalla and Bass Coast had the highest population
rates of benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Inhalants: The daily number of regional Victorian inhalant-related attendances in 2012/13 was
significantly higher than in 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates
for inhalant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Maroondah, Melbourne and Greater
Dandenong. In regional Victoria, Mildura, Ballarat and Greater Bendigo were the LGAs with the
highest rates of inhalant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
All heroin: In metropolitan Melbourne, the mean age of patients and the proportion of cases where
the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in 2012/13 compared with the previous
year In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for all heroin-related
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong. In regional Victoria,
Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest population rate of heroin-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13, followed by Ballarat.
Heroin with response to naloxone: The daily number of heroin overdose attendances in 2012/13
was significantly lower than in 2011/12. There was a significant increase in the mean age of patients
in 2012/13 when compared with 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest
rates of heroin overdose ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong.
In regional Victoria, Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest rate of heroin overdose
Other heroin: Across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportions of cases where
the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three
LGAs with the highest rates of other heroin-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra,
Melbourne and Maribyrnong. In regional Victoria, Wodonga and Baw Baw had the highest population
rates of other heroin-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
GHB: The daily number of GHB-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne increased significantly
when compared with the preceding year. Significant increases were seen in the proportions of events
occurring in public and outdoor spaces, co-attended by police, and cases where the patient was
transported to hospital. In regional Victoria, the mean age of patients attended decreased significantly.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates of GHB-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Stonnington. In regional Victoria, Moorabool,
Wellington and Latrobe had the highest population rates of GHB-related ambulance attendances in
2012/13.
Anticonvulsants: In regional Victoria, the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to
hospital increased significantly when compared with the preceding year. In metropolitan Melbourne,
Page 4
the three LGAs with the highest rates of anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13
were Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and Frankston. In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong
was the LGA with the highest proportion of anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13,
while South Gippsland, Mitchell and Bass Coast had the highest population rates.
Antidepressants: In metropolitan Melbourne, the daily number of antidepressant-related attendances
was significantly higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12, while the mean age was lower in 2012/13 than in
2011/12. In regional Victoria, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cases involving
alcohol, while there was a significant increase in the proportion of cases where the patient was
transported to hospital. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates of
antidepressant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Melbourne and Cardinia.
In regional Victoria, Benalla, East Gippsland and Horsham had the highest population rates of
antidepressant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Antipsychotics: The daily numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances increased significantly in
both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria when compared with 2011/12. In regional Victoria,
there was a significant decrease in the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved in
2012/13 when compared with 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest
rates of antipsychotic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Port Phillip and
Melbourne. In regional Victoria, East Gippsland, Northern Grampians and Greater Bendigo had the
highest population rates of antipsychotic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Opioid analgesics: When compared with 2011/12, the daily number of opioid analgesic-related
attendances and the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased
significantly in metropolitan Melbourne. In regional Victoria, when compared with 2011/12, the
proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved decreased significantly, while the
proportion of events co-attended by police, the daily number of the attendances, and the mean age of
patients increased significantly. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for
opioid analgesic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Port Phillip and Yarra
Ranges. Horsham, East Gippsland and Mildura had the highest rates of opioid analgesic-related
attendances in regional Victoria.
Other analgesics: In 2012/13 the daily numbers of other analgesic-related attendances and the
proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased in both metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria when compared with the preceding year. In metropolitan Melbourne,
there were significant decreases in the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved
and in the proportion of events occurring in public spaces. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs
with the highest rates for other analgesic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne,
Frankston and Moonee Valley. In regional Victoria, Benalla, East Gippsland and Campaspe had the
highest population rates.
Cocaine: There was a significant increase in the proportion of cases where the patient was
transported to hospital in metropolitan Melbourne compared with 2011/12. When compared with
2011/12, the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved remained unchanged in
metropolitan Melbourne. Due to the small number of cocaine-related attendances in regional Victoria,
most characteristics had too few cases to be reported.
Page 5
Chapter 1: Introduction
This report is part of an ongoing project undertaken by Turning Point, and which commenced in 1998.
The rate of fatal heroin overdoses was increasing in Victoria in the late 1990s (Dietze, Fry, Rumbold,
& Gerostamoulos, 2001), and in response to increasing concern about the prevalence of overdose,
the current project was established to examine non-fatal heroin overdose in depth using ambulance
service records (Dietze, Cvetkovski, Rumbold, & Miller, 1998). The project is funded by the Victorian
Department of Health, formerly the Victorian Department of Human Services.
Non-fatal versus fatal heroin overdose
Surveys of people who inject drugs (PWID), along with anecdotal reports from users, suggest that the
experience of overdose is common amongst heroin users both in Australia (e.g., Darke, Ross, & Hall,
1996a; Loxley, Carruthers, & Bevan, 1995) and overseas (e.g., Gossop, Griffiths, Powis, Williamson,
& Strang, 1996). Darke et al. (1996a) found that 68% of respondents had experienced a heroin
’overdose’. A survey conducted in Victoria as part of the Illicit Drug Reporting System found that 64%
of regular heroin users reported having an experience of at least one overdose (Jenkinson & Quinn,
2007). Indeed, heroin users identify overdose as the heroin related harm with which they are most
concerned.
Most research on heroin related overdose has examined fatal overdoses (Dietze et al., 2001; Farrell,
Neeleman, Griffiths, & Strang, 1996). However, the examination of non-fatal heroin overdoses is likely
to be far more informative than the examination of fatal heroin overdoses. This is because fatal
overdoses represent only a small fraction of the total number of heroin overdoses; the majority of
heroin overdoses remain non-fatal. Recognition of this fact has seen an increase in the research effort
that has been directed at the examination of non-fatal overdoses (Darke et al., 1996a; Darke, Ross, &
Hall, 1996b). This research has been important in terms of identifying risk factors for overdose and
informing the development of strategies for the prevention of fatal overdose (Darke et al., 1996b;
Farrell et al., 1996; Gossop et al., 1996).
Ambulance service records
Examination of non-fatal overdose has been conducted through surveys of PWID (e.g., Darke et al.,
1996a). However, another potential source of information regarding these overdoses is records of
ambulance attendance (Bammer, Ostini, & Sengoz, 1995; Degenhardt, Hall, & Adelstein, 2001;
Dietze, Cvetkovski, Rumbold, & Miller, 2000; Dietze, Jolley, & Cvetkovski, 2003). The rate of
ambulance attendance at heroin overdose has been found to be as high as 56% of total overdoses
(Darke et al., 1996a). Recognition of this fact has seen an increase in the use of ambulance service
records to examine the nature and prevalence of heroin overdose (Bammer et al., 1995; Degenhardt
et al., 2001; Dietze et al., 2003). In this regard ambulance service records can provide rich information
on heroin related overdose and have significant advantages over one-off surveys of PWID. For
example, ambulance service records are not subject to the same sampling biases inherent in surveys
of PWID (see Hser, 1993). Moreover, in contrast to one-off surveys, ambulance records are routinely
collected and are thus sensitive to potential changes in heroin market characteristics such as changes
in drug purity, policing practices and user behaviour.
In Victoria, ambulance paramedics are required to complete an electronic patient care record (ePCR)
for every incident that they attend and for which they provide a service. These electronic records are
Page 6
downloaded onto VACIS, which contains the details of incident location and incident result (hospital
journey etc.) along with additional details about the incident, such as the patient’s condition. This
method of data collection superseded an earlier paper-based recording of incident and patient details
(see previous periodic reports from this project). In early 1997 Turning Point commenced discussions
with the Metropolitan Ambulance Service, now Ambulance Victoria, with a view to establishing
whether their records could be used to examine non-fatal overdose in Melbourne. The resulting
project was designed to examine non-fatal heroin overdose using ambulance service records through
the establishment of a database of all ambulance attendances at overdose events in the Melbourne
metropolitan area. With enhanced data collection available from June 1998, attendances involving
drugs other than heroin can also be examined.
The current report
In this annual report, eighteen drug categories are examined:
1. Alcohol
2. Cannabis
3. Ecstasy
4. All amphetamine related attendances
5. Crystal methamphetamine
6. Other amphetamine
7. Benzodiazepines
8. Inhalants
9. All heroin related attendances
10. Heroin overdose (responding to naloxone)
11. Other heroin
12. GHB
13. Anticonvulsants
14. Antidepressants
15. Antipsychotics
16. Opioid analgesics
17. Other analgesics, and
18. Cocaine related attendances.
The appendix includes key maps of the Victorian LGAs included in the report.
Page 7
Chapter 2: Methods
Data generated from VACIS®
The results presented in this report are generated from an analysis of electronic data extracted from
VACIS®. This system is used by Ambulance Victoria paramedics to record the details of all
emergency cases they attend, the endpoint being an electronic patient care record (ePCR). The
project team have developed a method for parsing the received VACIS® electronic data to correctly
identify relevant alcohol and drug related cases and extract the required information. However, due to
the structure of the data model in the VACIS® (point of care data collection), extracting alcohol- and
drug-related attendance information requires additional programming, manual data entry and clerical
validation so as to accurately extract the specific drugs or substances involved in the cases attended
by ambulance. As a consequence, a separate database was developed for the current project that
integrates and standardises information extracted from the VACIS® data supplied with the existing
Turning Point project database.
Victorian regional data became available from the system in 2011, hence the VACIS® data have now
included both the metropolitan Melbourne area and the regional Victorian area. The current database
contains information on:

the drugs or substances involved

geographic location

type of location (e.g., indoors/outdoors, public building/private residence)

time of day, day of week

demographic details of patient (sex, approximate age)

whether naloxone had been administered (yes/no) and response to naloxone administration
(effective/not effective)

outcome (e.g., taken to hospital/not transported)

whether police co-attended

other relevant clinical data (e.g., cyanisation, pupil size, respiratory rate).
The database has in excess of 385,000 records that have been collected for the period of 01/06/1998
to 30/06/2013. Analysis of some of the data collected for this period forms the basis of this report.
Data auditing and quality control
The data are internally validated when parsed for import and conversion from the VACIS® transfer
files provided by Ambulance Victoria to Turning Point. Variables and coding used in the VACIS® data
are compared to the Turning Point database model and any discrepancies are flagged for
investigation by project staff. When the VACIS® data have been parsed, converted and appended to
the Turning Point database, the electronic PCR records are collated for review by project staff in order
to manually code the various project-specific data required for reporting, including correctly coding the
drugs and substances involved in the event.
After the set of electronic PCR records is manually coded, the dataset is reviewed by senior project
staff and extracted for cleaning prior to analysis. Multiple electronic PCRs for the same patient are
aggregated and a random selection of cases is reviewed to ensure the manual coding was accurate
Page 8
and consistent. Data are then converted to a format suitable for analysis and are merged with the
Turning Point master project dataset. Preliminary analyses are performed to identify any anomalous
trends in the data. Any unusual or unexpected results are then re-reviewed to ensure that data
accurately reflect the case details. Ongoing review and cleaning of historical data are undertaken to
maintain the quality of the core dataset. Accordingly, numbers may vary slightly between this report
and previous publications.
In addition to these formal quality control methods, throughout these processes, all project staff
involved - the data entry personnel and the Research Fellows responsible for analysis - communicate
to identify trends, anomalies or interesting patterns noticed in the current dataset.
Definition of drug involvement/overdose used in this report
The attribution of a drug or substance as being involved in the event is formed on the basis of
ambulance paramedic mention of the involvement of these substances, established through
paramedic clinical assessment, patient self-report or information provided by someone else at the
scene, such as family, friends or associates. The drug categories reported indicate the involvement of
these drugs however other drugs and alcohol may have also been ingested (with the exception of
Alcohol which is an exclusive category in this report).
The core criterion project staff use in determining the involvement of a drug or substance is: “Is it
reasonable to attribute the immediate or recent (not merely chronic) over- or inappropriate ingestion of
the substance or medication as significantly contributing to the reason for the Ambulance Victoria
attendance?”
Alcohol-related events
Alcohol-related cases are defined as those cases attended by ambulance where assessment of
causality is that only alcohol, as far as could be ascertained, was involved in causing the attendance.
These cases usually relate to alcohol intoxication and poisoning, but may include alcohol-related
injuries.
All amphetamine-related attendances
This category is an aggregation of the cases classified as either crystal methamphetamine- or other
amphetamine-related events.
Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances
These cases are selected on the basis of ambulance paramedic mention of the involvement of
“Crystal meth(amphetamine)”, “Ice”, etc., established through patient self-report or information
provided by someone else at the scene, such as family, friends or associates. Data on “crystal
methamphetamine/ice” as the type of amphetamine involved in events have been collected from
October 2002.
Other amphetamine-related attendances
These cases are selected on the basis of ambulance paramedic mention of the involvement of any
form of amphetamine excluding “crystal meth(amphetamine)”, “ice”, etc., established through patient
self-report or information provided by someone else at the scene, such as family, friends or
associates. It should be noted that crystal methamphetamine cases cannot be excluded from the
Page 9
”other amphetamine” category with certainty. Therefore, the other amphetamine category should be
viewed as excluding crystal methamphetamine cases as far as could be ascertained.
All heroin-related attendances
This category is an aggregation of the cases classified as either heroin overdose or other heroinrelated events.
Heroin overdose
It is difficult to define heroin overdose (Darke & Zador, 1996). For the data presented in this report,
Heroin overdose refers to a positive response to the administration of naloxone (an opioid antagonist)
for those people attended by an ambulance and where there was no indication that the overdose
resulted from another opioid such as morphine or methadone. Other drugs and alcohol may also have
been ingested.
Other heroin-related attendances
These are cases where evidence of heroin use is established through the clinical assessment of the
ambulance paramedic and/or by the patient or his or her associates at the scene, but naloxone was
not administered. In these cases too, other drugs and alcohol may have also been ingested.
Ecstasy-, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)-, cannabis-, cocaine- and inhalant- related
attendances
These cases are selected on the basis of ambulance paramedic mention of the involvement of these
substances, established through patient self-report or information provided by someone else at the
scene, such as family, friends or associates. Data on GHB as the drug involved in events have been
collected from March 2001.
Benzodiazepine-related attendances
This category includes drugs such as alprazolam, bromazepam, clobazam, clonazepam, diazepam,
flunitrazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, oxazepam, temazepam and triazolam. This
category also includes the sedatives zolpidem and zopiclone.
Anticonvulsant-related attendances
Selected anticonvulsants include the drugs carbamazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine,
pregabalin, sodium valproate, tiagabine and topiramate. For the Ambo Project, the only
anticonvulsants coded are those that are used - on- or off-label - in treating psychiatric conditions,
primarily bipolar disorder. Data pertaining to anticonvulsant-related attendances were collected from
May 2000.
Antidepressant-related attendances
Included in this category are drugs such as amitriptyline, citalopram, clomipramine, desvenlafaxine,
dothiepin, doxepin, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, imipramine, mianserin,
mirtazapine, moclobemide, nortriptyline, paroxetine, phenelzine, reboxetine, sertraline,
tranylcypromine, trimipramine and venlafaxine.
Antipsychotic-related attendances
These include drugs such as amisulpride, aripiprazole, chlorpromazine, clozapine, droperidol,
flupenthixol, fluphenazine, haloperidol, olanzapine, paliperidone, pericyazine, pimozide, quetiapine,
Page 10
risperidone, thioridazine, trifluoperazine, ziprasidone, zuclopenthixol. This category also includes
lithium.
Opioid analgesic-related attendances
This category includes drugs such as dextropropoxyphene (with or without paracetamol), fentanyl,
hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, pethidine and tramadol, but excludes methadone and
buprenorphine.
Other analgesic-related attendances
Other analgesics includes drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and paracetamol, either alone or in
combination with other drugs (excluding dextropropoxyphene but including codeine).
Please note that for all categories, values of less than five cases are not reported.
Mapping of alcohol- and drug-related ambulance attendances
The ability to map ambulance attendances for alcohol- and drug-related harm provides unparalleled
opportunities to explore clustering of harms in local areas at the micro level for populations and subpopulations of interest. The production of maps of patterns and clusters of alcohol- and other drugrelated harms requiring ambulance attendance addresses policy priorities and also the need to
develop strategic and timely responses to alcohol and drug related harms. For each of the main drug
groups included in this report, maps of concentrations of alcohol- and drug-related ambulance
attendances are provided for 2012/13. These maps are presented at two levels of geographic
specificity - by local government area (LGA) and by postcode of attendance for both metropolitan
Melbourne, and for Victoria. Please note that postal area may not specify which part of Victoria is
regional or Melbourne metropolitan area. Key maps of LGAs are provided in the Appendix.
Population estimates
This report uses Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population (ERP) data to
calculate population rates. These figures are estimated at June 30 each year. For the 2011/12
financial year, ERP data from 2011 has been used as the denominator, whilst for the 2012/13
financial year, 2012 ERP data has been used as the denominator.
Page 11
Chapter 3: Alcohol-Related Attendances (Alcohol
Only)
Alcohol-related cases are defined as those cases attended by ambulance where assessment of
causality is that only alcohol, as far as could be ascertained, was involved in causing the attendance.
No other drugs or substances are known to be involved in these events. These cases usually relate to
alcohol intoxication and poisoning, but may include alcohol-related injuries.
Characteristics of alcohol-related attendances
The data displayed in Table 3 shows characteristics of alcohol-related ambulance attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria for 2011/12 and 2012/13. The daily numbers of alcoholrelated attendances were significantly higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12 (p<0.001) in both
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The mean age of patients attended increased in
2012/13 (p<0.001) in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In metropolitan Melbourne and
regional Victoria, the proportion of cases occurring in public spaces decreased (p<0.001) when
compared with 2011/12. In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportion of
alcohol-related attendances where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in
2012/13 when compared with the previous year (p<0.001).
Table 3: Characteristics of alcohol-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
N attendances (per
1m population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Age - Median (range)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
Police co-attendance
Transported to
hospital
P
2011/12
2012/13
8824
11159
(2147.6)
(2665.9)
<0.001
24.11
30.57
(11.10)
(13.43)
5 - 82
6 - 109
8824
(100%)
38
(17.89)
37
(<1 - 95)
5728
(65%)
4512
(52%)
4271
(50%)
1728
(20%)
6102
(70%)
11159
(100%)
40
(17.27)
40
(<1 - 95)
7330
(66%)
5421
(49%)
5334
(49%)
2361
(21%)
7726
(86%)
<0.001
<0.001
0.246
<0.001
0.471
0.005
<0.001
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
2594
3692
(1816.0)
(2559.9)
7.09
10.12
(4.23)
(5.42)
0 - 28
2 - 48
2594
(100%)
38
(18.48)
38
(<1 - 91)
1624
(63%)
1060
(42%)
856
(83%)
356
(14%)
1868
(73%)
3692
(100%)
41
(17.58)
41
(<1 - 94)
2312
(63%)
1371
(38%)
1100
(82%)
603
(16%)
2544
(87%)
P
<0.001
<0.001
<0.001
0.981
0.002
0.668
0.004
<0.001
Note: Except where indicated, all proportions are based on non-missing information.
Day of week and time of day of alcohol-related attendances
In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the distribution of alcohol-related ambulance
attendances across the days of the week was consistent in both 2011/12 and 2012/13, with the
highest proportion of attendances occurring on Saturdays and Sundays and lowest on Mondays. The
peak time for alcohol-related attendances in 2012/13 was between 12pm and 6am on Saturday and
Sunday. The distribution of alcohol-related attendances over times of day and days of week is
Page 12
presented in Figure 1 and Figure 2, and indicates that the trend in temporal variation in attendances
was similar in 2011/12 and 2012/13.
Figure 1: Proportion of alcohol-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 2: Proportion of alcohol-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Page 13
Alcohol-related attendances in local government areas
Alcohol-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 4 and for regional Victoria in Table 5. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for alcohol-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra (Table 4). Rates of attendances
increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year. The only exception
was Boroondara.
Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of alcohol-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne. Nillumbik remained the LGA with the lowest rate of alcohol-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of alcoholrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Yarriambiack and Warnambool had the highest
population rates, followed by Latrobe and Greater Shepparton (Table 5). Rates of attendances
increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year. The exceptions were
Murrindindi, Hepburn, Gannawarra and Buloke, showing decreases in population rates for alcoholrelated ambulance attendances.
Mapped alcohol-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA level (Map 1 and Map 2) and
postcode (Map 3) for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Page 14
Table 4: Numbers of alcohol-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
1165 (13%)
1162.2
Melbourne
1418 (13%)
Yarra
439 (5%)
556.4
Port Phillip
614 (6%)
614.7
Port Phillip
521 (6%)
535.6
Yarra
458 (4%)
568.2
Stonnington
342 (4%)
346.0
Frankston
543 (5%)
412.8
Frankston
400 (5%)
306.9
Greater Dandenong
575 (5%)
397.4
Greater Dandenong
435 (5%)
306.0
Stonnington
399 (4%)
396.3
Maribyrnong
219 (3%)
291.4
Maribyrnong
276 (3%)
360.4
Maroondah
262 (3%)
244.1
Mornington Peninsula
435 (4%)
288.5
Moreland
349 (4%)
226.3
Maroondah
311 (3%)
287.7
Kingston
332 (4%)
223.9
Darebin
403 (4%)
279.7
Darebin
311 (4%)
217.6
Kingston
385 (4%)
256.7
Hobsons Bay
186 (2%)
212.8
Hobsons Bay
221 (2%)
250.7
301 (3%)
201.6
Moonee Valley
279 (3%)
246.3
Moonee Valley
221 (3%)
197.0
Moreland
382 (3%)
244.6
Knox
250 (3%)
161.7
Whitehorse
354 (3%)
222.7
Boroondara
267 (3%)
159.8
Brimbank
430 (4%)
222.0
Banyule
190 (2%)
154.5
Hume
372 (3%)
209.0
Yarra Ranges
226 (3%)
151.8
Knox
295 (3%)
190.7
Brimbank
276 (3%)
144.1
Casey
477 (4%)
178.1
Melton
159 (2%)
141.2
Yarra Ranges
264 (2%)
177.1
Cardinia
107 (1%)
141.1
Bayside
168 (2%)
173.5
Bayside
134 (2%)
139.4
Glen Eira
236 (2%)
170.0
Hume
238 (3%)
136.6
Melton
198 (2%)
167.9
Whitehorse
207 (2%)
131.4
Cardinia
130 (1%)
162.3
Casey
335 (4%)
128.2
Banyule
196 (2%)
158.6
Glen Eira
174 (2%)
126.9
Boroondara
264 (2%)
156.9
Wyndham
208 (2%)
124.8
Monash
281 (3%)
156.3
Monash
211 (2%)
119.0
Whittlesea
257 (2%)
151.6
Whittlesea
180 (2%)
111.9
Manningham
170 (2%)
145.3
Manningham
124 (1%)
106.2
Wyndham
250 (2%)
139.3
56 (1%)
89.3
Nillumbik
67 (1%)
106.9
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
Melbourne
Nillumbik
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
1345.6
* % of metropolitan Melbourne
** per 100,000 population
Page 15
Table 5: Numbers of alcohol-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
LGA
Warrnambool
Central Goldfields
Latrobe
Mildura
Greater Shepparton
East Gippsland
Murrindindi
Greater Geelong
Wellington
Mansfield
Bass Coast
Southern Grampians
Ballarat
Buloke
Wodonga
Moira
Glenelg
Mitchell
Surf Coast
Campaspe
Wangaratta
Benalla
Strathbogie
Swan Hill
Greater Bendigo
Colac-Otway
Hepburn
Baw Baw
Gannawarra
Horsham
Corangamite
Moyne
Northern Grampians
Mount Alexander
Yarriambiack
Ararat
South Gippsland
Pyrenees
Alpine
Moorabool
Macedon Ranges
Hindmarsh
Loddon
Golden Plains
Indigo
Rest of Regional Victoria
2011/12
N (%*)
87 (3%)
33 (1%)
190 (7%)
129 (5%)
153 (6%)
105 (4%)
32 (1%)
497 (19%)
93 (4%)
17 (1%)
61 (2%)
31 (1%)
178 (7%)
12 (1%)
65 (3%)
51 (2%)
35 (1%)
61 (2%)
46 (2%)
63 (2%)
46 (2%)
23 (1%)
15 (1%)
32 (1%)
148 (6%)
30 (1%)
21 (1%)
60 (2%)
14 (1%)
26 (1%)
21 (1%)
20 (1%)
14 (1%)
20 (1%)
8 (0.3%)
12 (1%)
29 (1%)
7 (0.3%)
11 (0.4%)
26 (1%)
38 (2%)
5 (0.2%)
5 (0.2%)
10 (0.4%)
8 (0.3%)
8 (0.4%)
Rate**
266.3
262.3
257.5
248.9
247.8
245.2
240.0
230.3
221.1
214.1
201.8
187.1
187.0
185.6
180.4
179.5
176.3
173.8
172.5
170.9
169.0
166.4
156.3
153.4
145.1
144.2
143.6
138.3
133.9
133.2
127.1
123.7
116.1
111.9
111.4
106.0
105.4
103.6
91.2
90.7
88.6
85.4
66.3
52.7
52.2
-
LGA
Yarriambiack
Warrnambool
Latrobe
Greater Shepparton
Wellington
East Gippsland
Mildura
Bass Coast
Central Goldfields
Wangaratta
Greater Geelong
Colac-Otway
Ballarat
Horsham
Strathbogie
Glenelg
Mount Alexander
Wodonga
Ararat
Campaspe
Swan Hill
Mansfield
Greater Bendigo
Surf Coast
Pyrenees
Benalla
Corangamite
Moira
Mitchell
Southern Grampians
Baw Baw
Moorabool
Macedon Ranges
Alpine
Hindmarsh
South Gippsland
Murrindindi
Buloke
Northern Grampians
Loddon
Moyne
Hepburn
Gannawarra
Indigo
Golden Plains
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
27 (1%)
379.5
125 (3%)
379.2
280 (8%)
378.7
229 (6%)
367.3
146 (4%)
345.2
148 (4%)
343.0
169 (5%)
323.7
97 (3%)
317.1
38 (1%)
302.0
80 (2%)
293.7
640 (18%)
293.1
56 (2%)
270.1
242 (7%)
249.6
49 (1%)
249.3
24 (1%)
248.4
48 (1%)
242.7
43 (1%)
240.7
88 (2%)
240.3
27 (1%)
237.8
87 (2%)
235.4
49 (1%)
233.6
18 (0.5%)
223.1
228 (6%)
219.8
57 (2%)
208.4
14 (0.4%)
207.2
28 (1%)
203.9
33 (1%)
201.4
57 (2%)
198.8
71 (2%)
195.9
32 (1%)
195.1
82 (2%)
184.8
54 (2%)
184.0
75 (2%)
172.4
19 (1%)
156.5
9 (0.2%)
155.3
40 (1%)
143.8
19 (0.5%)
141.4
9 (0.2%)
141.4
16 (0.4%)
133.7
10 (0.3%)
132.9
21 (1%)
129.5
18 (0.5%)
122.0
12 (0.3%)
115.5
14 (0.4%)
91.0
16 (0.4%)
82.4
8 (0.3%)
-
*% of regional Victoria
Page 16
Map 1: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 17
Map 2: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 18
Map 3: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 19
Trends over time in alcohol-related attendances
As shown in Figure 3, numbers and rates of alcohol-related attendances have fluctuated with overall
upward trends across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past two years.
December 2012 had the highest number and rate of attendances across Victoria. Over the past 10
years, there has been a pronounced upward trend in alcohol-related attendances across metropolitan
Melbourne, with more than a threefold increase in attendances occurring during this period (Figure 4).
Figure 3: Alcohol-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 20
Figure 4: Alcohol-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 21
Chapter 4: Cannabis-Related Attendances
Characteristics of cannabis-related attendances
As displayed in Table 6, across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily rate of
cannabis-related attendances in 2012/13 increased significantly when compared with the preceding
year (p<0.001). In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportions of cannabisrelated attendances where alcohol was involved decreased while the proportion where the patient
was transported to hospital increased in 2012/13 when compared with the previous year; both
changes were statistically significant (p<0.001).
Table 6: Characteristics of cannabis-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
N attendances (per 1m
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
Transported to hospital
p
2011/12
2012/13
936
1416
(227.8)
(338.2)
<0.001
2.56
3.88
(1.80)
(2.20)
0 - 10
0 - 11
538
(57%)
29
(11.77)
27
(<1 - 69)
604
(64%)
318
(34%)
313
(34%)
171
(18%)
715
(76%)
699
(49%)
30
(11.84)
27
(<1 - 79)
962
(68%)
447
(32%)
458
(33%)
287
(20%)
996
(86%)
<0.001
0.089
0.066
0.195
0.596
0.222
<0.001
Regional Victoria
P
2011/12
2012/13
350
554
(244.9)
(384.2)
<0.001
0.96
1.52
(1.01)
(1.30)
0-4
0- 7
219
(63%)
30
(11.75)
28
(<1 - 66)
234
(67%)
90
(26%)
68
(71%)
59
(17%)
278
(80%)
286
(52%)
30
(12.29)
27
(13 - 63)
358
(65%)
118
(22%)
81
(69%)
89
(16%)
419
(91%)
0.001
0.506
0.494
0.130
0.675
0.782
<0.001
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
Day of week and time of day of cannabis-related attendances
The distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the week in metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria in 2011/12 and 2012/13 are shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6. In
2012/13, the distribution of attendances clustered around the weekend, with a similar pattern as
shown in the preceding year. The peak days (aggregating all times) in both 2011/12 and 2012/13
were Friday and Saturday. The peak times (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 were between 6pm and
midnight, which was consistent with 2011/12.
Page 22
Figure 5: Proportion of cannabis-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 6: Proportion of cannabis-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Page 23
Cannabis-related attendances in local government areas
Cannabis-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for cannabis-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Frankston and Port Phillip (Table 7). Rates of attendances
increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of cannabis-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne. Boroondara remained the LGA with the lowest rate of cannabis-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of cannabisrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Latrobe and Greater Shepparton had the highest
population rates, followed by Mildura and East Gippsland (Table 8). Rates of attendances increased
across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
Mapped cannabis-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 4 and Map 5) and
postcode (Map 6) levels for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Page 24
Table 7: Numbers of cannabis-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
2011/12
N (%*)
68 (7%)
Rate**
67.8
Melbourne
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
96 (7%)
91.1
Yarra
46 (5%)
58.3
Frankston
74 (5%)
56.3
Greater Dandenong
60 (6%)
42.2
Port Phillip
56 (4%)
56.1
Maribyrnong
31 (3%)
41.2
Maribyrnong
38 (3%)
49.6
Port Phillip
35 (4%)
36.0
Greater Dandenong
67 (5%)
46.3
Maroondah
36 (4%)
33.5
Darebin
66 (5%)
45.8
Frankston
42 (5%)
32.2
Yarra
32 (2%)
39.7
Hobsons Bay
27 (3%)
30.9
Casey
105 (7%)
39.2
Darebin
44 (5%)
30.8
56 (4%)
37.1
37 (4%)
24.8
Stonnington
37 (3%)
36.7
Knox
38 (4%)
24.6
Moreland
57 (4%)
36.5
Kingston
35 (4%)
23.6
Maroondah
39 (3%)
36.1
Hume
41 (4%)
23.5
Hume
64 (5%)
35.9
Stonnington
20 (2%)
20.2
Brimbank
68 (5%)
35.1
Moreland
31 (3%)
20.1
Moonee Valley
38 (3%)
33.6
Brimbank
38 (4%)
19.8
Knox
52 (4%)
33.6
Whitehorse
30 (3%)
19.0
Yarra Ranges
49 (4%)
32.9
Moonee Valley
21 (2%)
18.7
Banyule
36 (3%)
29.1
Monash
32 (3%)
18.0
Kingston
43 (3%)
28.7
Bayside
17 (2%)
17.7
Melton
33 (2%)
28.0
Casey
46 (5%)
17.6
Hobsons Bay
24 (2%)
27.2
Banyule
20 (2%)
16.3
Whitehorse
40 (3%)
25.2
Wyndham
27 (3%)
16.2
Cardinia
20 (1%)
25.0
Yarra Ranges
24 (3%)
16.1
Whittlesea
41 (3%)
24.2
Cardinia
12 (1%)
15.8
Glen Eira
31 (2%)
22.3
Glen Eira
18 (2%)
13.1
Wyndham
39 (3%)
21.7
Whittlesea
18 (2%)
11.2
Manningham
25 (2%)
21.4
Melton
12 (1%)
10.7
Nillumbik
12 (1%)
19.2
Boroondara
17 (2%)
10.2
Monash
33 (2%)
18.4
Bayside
15 (1%)
15.5
Boroondara
24 (2%)
14.3
LGA
Melbourne
Rest of Melbourne
1 4 (11%)
-
LGA
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
*% of metropolitan Melbourne
Page 25
Table 8: Numbers of cannabis-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
LGA
Mildura
Horsham
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
26 (8%)
50.2
9 (3%)
Latrobe
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
62 (11%)
83.9
46.1
Greater Shepparton
42 (8%)
67.4
LGA
East Gippsland
18 (5%)
42.0
Mildura
33 (6%)
63.2
Greater Shepparton
25 (7%)
40.5
East Gippsland
24 (4%)
55.6
Latrobe
29 (8%)
39.3
Wangaratta
15 (3%)
55.1
Moorabool
10 (3%)
34.9
Ararat
6 (1%)
52.8
Greater Geelong
75 (22%)
34.7
Murrindindi
7 (1%)
52.1
Warrnambool
11 (3%)
33.7
Wellington
22 (4%)
52.0
Bass Coast
10 (3%)
33.1
Warrnambool
17 (3%)
51.6
9 (3%)
24.4
Bass Coast
14 (3%)
45.8
95 (17%)
43.5
Campaspe
Ballarat
22 (6%)
23.1
Greater Geelong
Mitchell
8 (2%)
22.8
Southern Grampians
7 (1%)
42.7
36 (7%)
37.1
Wodonga
8 (2%)
22.2
Ballarat
Moira
6 (2%)
21.1
Macedon Ranges
16 (3%)
36.8
Baw Baw
7 (2%)
16.1
Mitchell
13 (2%)
35.9
6 (2%)
14.3
South Gippsland
10 (2%)
35.9
14 (4%)
13.7
Horsham
7 (1%)
35.6
Corangamite
5 (1%)
30.5
Glenelg
6 (1%)
30.3
Campaspe
11 (2%)
29.8
Wodonga
10 (2%)
27.3
Baw Baw
11 (2%)
24.8
Moorabool
7 (1%)
23.9
Wellington
Greater Bendigo
Surf Coast
55 (17%)
-
6 (1%)
21.9
Greater Bendigo
21 (4%)
20.2
45 (8%)
-
Page 26
Map 4: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 27
Map 5: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 28
Map 6: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian postcodes, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 29
Trends over time in cannabis-related attendances
Figure 7 shows the numbers and rates of cannabis-related attendances have fluctuated with overall
upward trends across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past two years, with the
lowest rate of attendances occurring in June 2012. The increase in attendances over the last decade
has been significant, with more than double the number of cannabis-related attendances in 2012/13
than in 2003/04 in metropolitan Melbourne (Figure 8).
Figure 7: Cannabis-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 30
Figure 8: Cannabis-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 31
Chapter 5: Ecstasy-Related Attendances
Characteristics of ecstasy-related attendances
As shown in Table 9, in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, there were significant
increases in the daily numbers of ecstasy-related attendances in 2012/13 when compared with
2011/12. The age of patients attended decreased in metropolitan Melbourne while the age increased
in regional Victoria in 2012/13 compared with 2011/12. Both changes were significant (p<0.05). In
metropolitan Melbourne only, the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved
decreased while the proportion of attendances where the patient was transported to hospital
increased, both changes were statistically significant (p<0.001; p<0.05, respectively).
Table 9: Characteristics of ecstasy-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
2011/12
2012/13
p
191
306
(46.4)
(73.1)
<0.001
0.52
0.84
(1.03)
(1.27)
0 - 12
0-8
128
(67%)
24
(8.22)
23
(<1 - 60)
124
(65%)
94
(51%)
96
(52%)
24
(13%)
147
(79%)
168
(55%)
23
(6.54)
21
(15 - 55)
199
(65%)
158
(53%)
161
(56%)
50
(16%)
238
(87%)
0.006
0.034
0.971
0.559
0.487
0.242
0.030
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
p
33
54
(23.4)
(37.4)
0.09
0.15
0.035
(0.30)
(0.42)
0-2
0-3
22
(67%)
22
(7.46)
22
(<1 - 44)
17
(52%)
14
(45%)
12
(86%)
<5
27
(50%)
25
(7.12)
23
(18 -49)
35
(65%)
28
(56%)
22
(79%)
5
(9%)
41
(93%)
29
(88%)
0.115
0.031
0.229
0.332
0.537
0.403
Day of week and time of day of ecstasy-related attendances
Melbourne was similar for 2012/13 and the previous year (Figure 9 and Figure 10), with few cases in
regional Victoria indicating a broadly similar trend in 2012/13. The peak days (aggregating all times) in
2011/12 and in 2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria were Sundays. The peak
times (aggregating all days) in 2011/12 and in 2012/13 were between midnight and 6am in
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Page 32
Figure 9: Proportion of ecstasy-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 10: Proportion of ecstasy-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Page 33
Ecstasy-related attendances in local government areas
Ecstasy-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for ecstasy-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Stonnington and Port Phillip (Table 10). Rates of
attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of ecstasy-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne. In regional Victoria, Greater Bendigo and Greater Geelong had the highest
population rates in 2012/13 (Table 11).
Mapped ecstasy-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 7 and Map 8) and
postcode (Map 9) levels.
Table 10: Numbers of ecstasy-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Melbourne
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
45 (24%)
44.9
Stonnington
19 (10%)
19.2
Stonnington
24 (8%)
23.8
Port Phillip
14 (8%)
14.4
Port Phillip
17 (6%)
17.0
Yarra
8 (4%)
10.1
Yarra
9 (3%)
11.2
Maribyrnong
6 (3%)
8.0
Frankston
14 (5%)
10.6
Moonee Valley
7 (4%)
6.2
Moreland
13 (4%)
8.3
Frankston
8 (4%)
6.1
Banyule
9 (3%)
7.3
10 (3%)
6.9
LGA
LGA
Melbourne
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
90 (30%)
85.4
Boroondara
9 (5%)
5.4
Darebin
Bayside
5 (3%)
5.2
Maroondah
7 (2%)
6.5
Hume
7 (4%)
4.0
Yarra Ranges
9 (3%)
6.0
Knox
6 (3%)
3.9
Boroondara
10 (3%)
5.9
Yarra Ranges
5 (3%)
3.4
Hume
10 (3%)
5.6
Wyndham
5 (3%)
3.0
Moonee Valley
6 (2%)
5.3
Casey
7 (4%)
2.7
Glen Eira
6 (2%)
4.3
Whittlesea
7 (2%)
4.1
6 (2%)
4.0
Monash
7 (2%)
3.9
Kingston
5 (2%)
3.3
Knox
5 (2%)
3.2
Whitehorse
5 (2%)
3.1
8 (3%)
3.0
Casey
Rest of Melbourne
39 (21%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
27 (9%)
-
*% of metropolitan Melbourne.
Table 11: Numbers of ecstasy-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Greater Geelong
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
10 (30%)
4.6
23 (70%)
LGA
LGA
Greater Bendigo
Greater Geelong
-
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
7 (13%)
6.7
9 (17%)
38 (71%)
4.1
-
*% of regional Victoria.
Page 34
Map 7: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 35
Map 8: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 36
Map 9: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 37
Trends over time in ecstasy-related attendances
Figure 11 shows an upward trend in ecstasy-related attendances across metropolitan Melbourne over
the past two years, with some fluctuations. Over the last ten years there has been a slight upward
trend in ecstasy-related ambulance attendances in metropolitan Melbourne, with a peak in 2008/09
followed by a decline in 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 and a rise again in 2012/13 (Figure 12).
Figure 11: Ecstasy-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 38
Figure 12: Ecstasy-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 39
Chapter 6 All Amphetamine-Related Attendances
This chapter provides analysis of all amphetamine-related attendances, combining crystal
methamphetamine-related attendances, as reported in Chapter 7, with other amphetamine-related
attendances, as reported in Chapter 8. Alcohol and other drugs may have also been ingested.
Characteristics of all amphetamine-related attendances
As shown in Table 12, in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily rate of all
amphetamine-related attendances and the proportion of events co-attended by police in 2012/13
increased significantly when compared with the preceding year (p<0.01). In metropolitan Melbourne,
there was a significant decrease (p<0.01) in the proportion of cases where alcohol was also involved,
while there was a significant increase (p<0.001) in the proportion of cases where the patient was
transported to hospital in 2012/13 when compared with 2011/12. In regional Victoria, the proportion of
events occurring in public spaces increased significantly (p<0.01).
Table 12: Characteristics of all amphetamine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
880
1394
(214.1)
(333.1)
<0.001
2.40
3.82
(1.95)
(2.30)
0 - 12
0 - 14
292
(33%)
28
(9.41)
26
(<1 - 64)
570
(65%)
380
(44%)
347
(41%)
179
(20%)
669
(76%)
375
(27%)
28
(8.59)
27
(12 - 70)
914
(66%)
563
(41%)
534
(39%)
366
(26%)
1085
(87%)
0.001
0.202
0.710
0.145
0.528
0.001
<0.001
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
166
312
(115.9)
(216.6)
<0.001
0.45
0.86
(0.68)
(1.07)
0-3
0-6
66
(40%)
27
(9.55)
26
(<1 - 68)
106
(64%)
44
(27%)
26
(59%)
16
(10%)
139
(84%)
98
(31%)
28
(8.59)
26
(13 - 60)
201
(64%)
111
(37%)
76
(64%)
64
(21%)
243
(89%)
0.046
0.335
0.897
0.030
0.545
0.002
0.113
Page 40
Day of week and time of day of all amphetamine-related
attendances
As displayed in Figure 13 the distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the
week was similar for 2012/13 and the previous year in metropolitan Melbourne, while patterns were
variable in regional Victoria in 2012/13 (Figure 14). The peak day (aggregating all times) in 2012/13
was Saturday in metropolitan Melbourne and Sunday in regional Victoria. The peak times
(aggregating all days) in 2012/13 in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria were between
midnight and 6am.
Figure 13: Proportion of all amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 41
Figure 14: Proportion of all amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week - 2011/12 and
2012/13
All amphetamine-related attendances in local government areas
All amphetamine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 13 and for regional
Victoria in Table 14. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for all
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra
(Table 13). Rates of attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the
previous year. The two exceptions were Yarra and Maribyrnong. Melbourne retained its ranking as the
LGA with the highest rate of alcohol-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne. Manningham was
the LGA with the lowest rate of all amphetamine-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of all
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Latrobe, Moorabool and Greater
Shepparton had the highest population rates, followed by Horsham and Warnambool (Table 14).
Rates of attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
The exceptions were East Gippsland and Bass Coast, showing decreases in population rates for all
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances.
Mapped all amphetamine-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 10 and Map
11) and postcode (Map 12).
Page 42
Table 13: Numbers of all amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
Melbourne
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
98 (11%)
97.8
Yarra
50 (6%)
63.4
Port Phillip
61 (4%)
61.1
Port Phillip
55 (6%)
56.5
Yarra
42 (3%)
52.1
Frankston
48 (5%)
36.8
Frankston
64 (5%)
48.7
Greater Dandenong
42 (5%)
29.5
Greater Dandenong
62 (5%)
42.9
Maribyrnong
22 (3%)
29.3
Darebin
58 (4%)
40.3
Hobsons Bay
25 (3%)
28.6
Hume
70 (5%)
39.3
Stonnington
26 (3%)
26.3
Moreland
60 (4%)
38.4
Darebin
35 (4%)
24.5
Brimbank
74 (5%)
38.2
Moreland
37 (4%)
24.0
Stonnington
38 (3%)
37.7
Maroondah
24 (3%)
22.4
Banyule
42 (3%)
34.0
40 (3%)
33.9
LGA
Melbourne
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
164 (12%)
155.6
Banyule
27 (3%)
22.0
Melton
Hume
35 (4%)
20.1
Casey
86 (6%)
32.1
28 (2%)
31.8
Yarra Ranges
28 (3%)
18.8
Hobsons Bay
Brimbank
35 (4%)
18.3
Moonee Valley
35 (3%)
30.9
Moonee Valley
20 (2%)
17.8
Maroondah
33 (2%)
30.5
Whittlesea
27 (3%)
16.8
Kingston
40 (3%)
26.7
Wyndham
27 (3%)
16.2
Whittlesea
44 (3%)
26.0
Kingston
24 (3%)
16.2
39 (3%)
25.9
Melton
18 (2%)
16.0
Knox
38 (3%)
24.6
Knox
24 (3%)
15.5
Whitehorse
39 (3%)
24.5
Casey
39 (4%)
14.9
Cardinia
19 (1%)
23.7
22 (3%)
14.7
Glen Eira
30 (2%)
21.6
Whitehorse
23 (3%)
14.6
Nillumbik
13 (1%)
20.7
Nillumbik
8 (1%)
12.8
Yarra Ranges
30 (2%)
20.1
Glen Eira
14 (2%)
10.2
Maribyrnong
15 (1%)
19.6
Manningham
11 (1%)
9.4
Wyndham
34 (2%)
18.9
Boroondara
15 (2%)
9.0
Boroondara
28 (2%)
16.6
Monash
13 (3%)
7.3
Bayside
16 (1%)
16.5
Monash
29 (2%)
16.1
Manningham
17 (1%)
14.5
Rest of Melbourne
10 (1%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
Page 43
Table 14: Numbers of all amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria
- 2011/12 and 2012/13
Latrobe
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
35 (11%)
47.3
7 (4%)
23.2
Moorabool
12 (4%)
40.9
Latrobe
16 (10%)
21.7
Greater Shepparton
21 (7%)
33.7
Mildura
10 (6%)
19.3
Horsham
6 (2%)
30.5
Greater Geelong
34 (20%)
15.8
Warrnambool
10 (3%)
30.3
Ballarat
14 (9%)
14.7
Greater Geelong
64 (21%)
29.3
Greater Shepparton
9 (6%)
14.6
Greater Bendigo
29 (9%)
28.0
Wellington
6 (4%)
14.3
Campaspe
9 (3%)
24.4
Mitchell
5 (3%)
14.2
Mildura
12 (4%)
23.0
Baw Baw
5 (3%)
11.5
Wodonga
8 (3%)
21.8
10 (6%)
9.8
LGA
East Gippsland
Bass Coast
Greater Bendigo
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
10 (6%)
23.4
LGA
Moira
6 (2%)
20.9
20 (7%)
20.6
Bass Coast
6 (2%)
19.6
East Gippsland
8 (3%)
18.5
Surf Coast
5 (2%)
18.3
Baw Baw
8 (3%)
18.0
Macedon Ranges
6 (2%)
13.8
Ballarat
39 (24%)
-
45 (14%)
-
Page 44
Map 10: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 45
Map 11: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 46
Map 12: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 47
Trends over time in all amphetamine-related attendances
Over the past two years, upward trends in all amphetamine-related attendances across metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria were evident, with some fluctuations (Figure 15).
As shown in Figure 16, there has been an upward trend in all amphetamine-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne over the first four years shown, with a peak in 2006/07 followed by a decline
in 2007/08, beginning to rise again from 2010/11, and peaking in 2012/13.
Figure 15: All amphetamine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 48
Figure 16: All amphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13
Page 49
Chapter 7 Crystal Methamphetamine-Related
Attendances
These cases are selected on the basis of ambulance paramedic mention of the involvement of “crystal
meth(amphetamine)”, “ice”, etc., established through patient self-report or information provided by
someone else at the scene, such as family, friends or associates. Data on “crystal
methamphetamine/ice” as the type of amphetamine involved in events have been collected from
October 2002.
Characteristics of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances
As shown in Table 15, in 2012/13 across Victoria, the daily rate of crystal methamphetamine-related
attendances was significantly higher than in 2011/12 (p<0.001). In metropolitan Melbourne, significant
decreases were seen in the proportion of cases where alcohol was involved, and where events
occurred in public spaces (p<0.05), while significant increases were noted in the proportion of events
co-attended by police, and cases where the patient was transported to hospital (p<0.01). In regional
Victoria, there was a significant increase in the proportion of events co-attended by police (p<0.001).
Table 15: Characteristics of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
592
1112
(144.1)
(265.7)
<0.001
1.62
3.05
(1.45)
(1.92)
0-7
158
(27%)
28
(8.80)
26
(<1 - 53)
386
(65%)
256
(44%)
226
(40%)
124
(21%)
458
(78%)
0 - 10
243
(22%)
28
(8.41)
27
(12 - 70)
724
(65%)
424
(39%)
405
(38%)
306
(27%)
858
(87%)
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
77
231
(54.2)
(159.8)
<0.001
0.21
0.63
(0.44)
(0.84)
0-2
0.022
0.136
0.975
0.028
0.407
0.002
<0.001
25
(32%)
26
(9.06)
25
(<1 - 68)
46
(59%)
18
(23%)
10
(56%)
5
(6%)
65
(84%)
0-4
63
(27%)
28
(8.83)
26
(13 - 60)
150
(65%)
78
(34%)
54
(63%)
51
(22%)
182
(90%)
0.377
0.136
0.313
0.062
0.559
0.002
0.136
Page 50
Day of week and time of day of crystal methamphetamine-related
attendances
As displayed in Figure 17 the distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the
week was similar for 2012/13 and the previous year in metropolitan Melbourne, while patterns were
variable in regional Victoria in 2012/13 (Figure 18). The peak day (aggregating all times) in 2012/13
was Saturday in metropolitan Melbourne and Friday in regional Victoria. The peak times (aggregating
all days) in 2012/13 were between 6pm and midnight in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional
Victoria.
Figure 17: Proportion of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week,
metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 51
Figure 18: Proportion of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, regional
Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances in local government
areas
Crystal methamphetamine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12
for comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 16 and for regional
Victoria in Table 17. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for crystal
methamphetaminel-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and
Yarra (Table 16). Rates of attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with
the previous year. The only exception was Maribyrnong.
Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of crystal methamphetamine-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne. Bayside was the LGA with the lowest rate of crystal
methamphetamine-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of crystal
methamphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Latrobe, Moorabool and Horsham had
the highest population rates, followed by Greater Bendigo and Greater Geelong (Table 17). Rates of
attendances increased across all LGAs when compared with the previous year (where numbers
allowed for comparison).
Mapped crystal methamphetamine-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA level (Map
1 and Map 2) and postcode (Map 3) for metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Page 52
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
63 (11%)
62.8
Melbourne
104 (9%)
98.7
Yarra
30 (5%)
38.0
Port Phillip
46 (4%)
46.1
Port Phillip
35 (6%)
36.0
Yarra
33 (3%)
40.9
Frankston
28 (5%)
21.5
Frankston
51 (5%)
38.8
Greater Dandenong
30 (5%)
21.1
Greater Dandenong
54 (5%)
37.3
Hobsons Bay
18 (3%)
20.6
Darebin
50 (5%)
34.7
Maribyrnong
15 (3%)
20.0
Moreland
53 (5%)
33.9
Stonnington
19 (3%)
19.2
Hume
59 (5%)
33.1
Moreland
29 (5%)
18.8
Melton
38 (3%)
32.2
Hume
29 (5%)
16.6
Brimbank
60 (5%)
31.0
Darebin
22 (4%)
15.4
Stonnington
31 (3%)
30.8
Brimbank
27 (5%)
14.1
Casey
72 (7%)
26.9
Maroondah
15 (3%)
14.0
Banyule
33 (3%)
26.7
Melton
15 (3%)
13.3
Moonee Valley
28 (3%)
24.7
Banyule
16 (3%)
13.0
Kingston
37 (3%)
24.7
Knox
19 (3%)
12.3
Maroondah
26 (2%)
24.1
Kingston
17 (3%)
11.5
Whittlesea
39 (4%)
23.0
Wyndham
19 (3%)
11.4
Whitehorse
36 (3%)
22.6
Whittlesea
18 (3%)
11.2
Hobsons Bay
19 (2%)
21.6
Yarra Ranges
16 (3%)
10.7
32 (3%)
21.2
Moonee Valley
12 (2%)
10.7
Cardinia
17 (2%)
21.2
Casey
25 (4%)
9.6
Maribyrnong
14 (1%)
18.3
Glen Eira
13 (2%)
9.5
Knox
28 (3%)
18.1
11 (2%)
7.4
Nillumbik
11 (1%)
17.6
Whitehorse
11 (2%)
7.0
Wyndham
28 (3%)
15.6
8 (1%)
6.9
Glen Eira
20 (2%)
14.4
10 (2%)
5.6
Monash
23 (2%)
12.8
9 (2%)
5.4
Yarra Ranges
19 (2%)
12.7
Manningham
14 (1%)
12.0
Boroondara
20 (2%)
11.9
Bayside
10 (0.9%)
10.3
0 (0%)
-
Melbourne
Manningham
Monash
Boroondara
Rest of Melbourne
15 (3%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
Page 53
regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
Latrobe
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
10 (13%)
13.6
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Latrobe
30 (13%)
40.6
8 (10%)
8.4
Moorabool
9 (4%)
30.7
18 (23%)
8.3
Horsham
5 (2%)
25.4
Greater Shepparton
5 (7%)
8.1
Greater Bendigo
24 (11%)
23.1
Greater Bendigo
7 (9%)
6.9
Greater Geelong
50 (22%)
22.9
Ballarat
Greater Geelong
Greater Shepparton
14 (6%)
22.5
Campaspe
8 (4%)
21.6
Bass Coast
6 (3%)
19.6
Warrnambool
6 (3%)
18.2
Moira
30 (39%)
-
5 (2%)
17.4
Ballarat
15 (7%)
15.5
Mildura
8 (4%)
15.3
East Gippsland
5 (2%)
11.6
44 (19%)
-
Trends over time in crystal methamphetamine-related attendances
Figure 19 shows a pronounced upward trend in crystal methamphetamine-related attendances over
the past two years in metropolitan Melbourne, while a slow rise was seen for regional Victorian
attendances. As shown in Figure 20 an upward trend in crystal methamphetamine-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne is evident, with the peak for attendances occurring in 2012/13.
Page 54
Figure 19: Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 20: Crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 55
Chapter 8: Other Amphetamine-Related Attendances
This chapter excludes analysis of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances, the results of which
were presented in the previous chapter. However, it should be noted that crystal methamphetamine
involved cases cannot be excluded, with certainty, from the other amphetamine category, but only in
so far as could be ascertained.
Characteristics of other amphetamine-related attendances
As shown in Table 18, across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily rate of other
amphetamine-related attendances decreased non-significantly. In metropolitan Melbourne only, the
proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital was significantly higher than in
2011/12 (p<0.001).
Table 18: Characteristics of other amphetamine attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
2011/12
2012/13
288
(70.0)
0.79
(1.04)
282
(67.4)
0.77
(1.03)
0-6
0-6
135
(47%)
28
(10.56)
26
(<1 - 64)
184
(64%)
124
(44%)
121
(43%)
55
(19%)
212
(74%)
132
(47%)
29
(9.30)
26
(13 - 58)
190
(67%)
139
(50%)
129
(47%)
60
(21%)
227
(89%)
p
0.865
0.992
0.694
0.398
0.149
0.380
0.512
<0.001
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
88
(61.7)
0.24
(0.49)
82
(56.8)
0.22
(0.52)
0-2
0-3
41
(47%)
28
(9.92)
27
(<1 - 64)
60
(68%)
26
(30%)
16
(60%)
11
(12%)
74
(84%)
35
(43%)
29
(7.89)
27
(17 - 50)
51
(62%)
33
(43%)
22
(65%)
13
(16%)
62
(86%)
p
0.658
0.552
0.823
0.408
0.082
0.731
0.522
0.698
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information
Day of week and time of day of other amphetamine-related
attendances
Melbourne were similar in 2012/13 and the previous year, and broadly similar to the pattern in
regional Victoria in 2011/12 (Figure 21, Figure 22). The peak days (aggregating all times) in both
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria were Saturday and Sunday. The peak time (aggregating
all days) in 2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne was between midnight and 6am.
Page 56
Figure 21: Proportion of other amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 22: Proportion of other amphetamine-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria
- 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 57
Other amphetamine-related attendances in local government areas
Other amphetamine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
Victoria in Table 20. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for other
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra
(Table 19). Rates of attendances varied across the majority of LGAs when compared with the
previous year. Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of other amphetaminerelated attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of other
amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Greater Shepparton and Latrobe had the
highest population rates (Table 19)
Table 19: Numbers of other amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
Melbourne
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
35 (12%)
34.9
LGA
Melbourne
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
60 (21%)
56.9
Yarra
20 (7%)
25.3
Port Phillip
Port Phillip
20 (7%)
20.6
Yarra
Frankston
20 (7%)
15.3
Hobsons Bay
8 (3%)
10.6
Frankston
Darebin
13 (5%)
9.1
Yarra Ranges
11 (4%)
7.4
Greater Dandenong
13 (4%)
9.1
Banyule
9 (3%)
7.3
11 (4%)
8.9
Brimbank
14 (5%)
7.2
10 (4%)
7.2
7 (3%)
7.0
Maribyrnong
Banyule
Maroondah
Yarra Ranges
9 (3%)
8.4
Glen Eira
12 (4%)
8.1
Stonnington
15 (5%)
15.0
9 (3%)
11.2
9 (3%)
10.2
13 (5%)
9.9
7 (3%)
8.0
Maroondah
7 (3%)
6.5
Whitehorse
12 (4%)
7.6
Knox
10 (4%)
6.5
Hobsons Bay
11 (4%)
7.4
Hume
11 (4%)
6.2
Moonee Valley
8 (3%)
7.1
Moonee Valley
7 (3%)
6.2
Stonnington
7 (2%)
7.1
Bayside
6 (2%)
6.2
Whittlesea
9 (3%)
5.6
Darebin
8 (3%)
5.6
14 (5%)
5.4
Greater Dandenong
Wyndham
8 (3%)
4.8
Casey
Kingston
7 (2%)
4.7
Moreland
7 (3%)
4.5
Brimbank
7 (3%)
Boroondara
6 (2%)
Hume
Knox
Casey
Rest of Melbourne
8 (3%)
5.5
14 (5%)
5.2
Boroondara
8 (3%)
4.8
7 (3%)
4.6
3.7
Moreland
7 (3%)
4.5
3.6
Wyndham
6 (2%)
3.3
6 (2%)
3.4
Monash
6 (2%)
3.3
5 (2%)
3.2
Whittlesea
5 (2%)
3.0
-
Rest of Melbourne
14 (5%)
16 (6%)
-
Page 58
Table 20: Numbers of other amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional
Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
East Gippsland
8 (9%)
18.7
Greater Shepparton
Wellington
6 (7%)
14.3
Latrobe
Mildura
6 (7%)
11.6
Greater Geelong
Latrobe
Greater Geelong
Ballarat
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
7 (9%)
11.2
5 (6%)
6.8
14 (17%)
6.4
7 (8%)
9.5
Ballarat
5 (6%)
5.2
16 (18%)
7.4
Greater Bendigo
5 (6%)
4.8
7 (7%)
7.4
39 (44%)
-
45 (55%)
-
Trends over time in other amphetamine-related attendances
As shown in Figure 23, there has been a downward trend in other amphetamine-related attendances
across metropolitan Melbourne n the past two years. Due to the small numbers of regional Victorian
attendances, the trend was not immediately apparent. Figure 24 shows a gradual downward trend
across metropolitan Melbourne over the past ten years.
Figure 23: Other amphetamine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 59
Figure 24: Other amphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 60
Chapter 9: Benzodiazepine-Related Attendances
Characteristics of benzodiazepine-related attendances
Characteristics of benzodiazepine-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne and regional
Victoria are displayed in Table 21. As shown, across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria,
the daily numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances were higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12
(p<0.001; p<0.05, respectively). Significant decreases were seen in the proportions of events
occurring in public spaces, while significant increases were evident in the proportions of events coattended by police and in cases where the patient was transported to hospital. The mean age of
patients increased while the proportion of male patients decreased in metropolitan Melbourne. Both
changes were significant (p<0.01; p<0.001). The proportion of cases involving alcohol decreased
significantly (p<0.01) in regional Victoria.
Table 21: Characteristics of benzodiazepine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
2011/12
2012/13
2694
(655.6)
7.36
(2.88)
3159
(754.6)
8.65
(3.10)
1 – 15
2 - 20
1193
(44%)
37
(14.55)
37
(<1 - 95)
1226
(46%)
733
(28%)
606
(23%)
464
(17%)
2389
(89%)
1338
(42%)
38
(14.31)
37
(<1 - 100)
1295
(41%)
767
(25%)
677
(22%)
653
(21%)
2793
(93%)
Regional Victoria
p
<0.001
0.123
0.004
<0.001
0.008
0.311
0.001
<0.001
2011/12
2012/13
727
(508.9)
1.99
(1.54)
808
(560.0)
2.21
(1.43)
0-7
0-7
351
(48%)
39
(15.91)
40
(<1 - 95)
280
(39%)
156
(22%)
86
(53%)
96
(13%)
664
(92%)
333
(41%)
40
(15.46)
40
(1 - 92)
323
(40%)
136
(17%)
88
(60%)
136
(17%)
735
(97%)
p
0.039
0.004
0.119
0.548
0.016
0.158
0.046
<0.001
Day of week and time of day of benzodiazepine-related attendances
The distributions of attendances across the times of the day and days of the week in metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria were similar in 2012/13 and 2011/12 (Figure 25, Figure 26). The
peak days (aggregating all times) in 2012/13 were Monday and Tuesday in metropolitan Melbourne,
and Saturday in regional Victoria, although the difference between days was small. The peak times of
attendances (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 were between 6pm and midnight in metropolitan
Melbourne and in regional Victoria.
Page 61
Figure 25: Proportion of benzodiazepine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 26: Proportion of benzodiazepine-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 62
Benzodiazepine-related attendances in local government areas
Benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
Victoria in Table 23. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for
benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Frankston and Melbourne
(Table 22). Rates of attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the
previous year. The exceptions included: Yarra, Melbourne, Maribyrnong, Greater Dandenong and
Bayside.
Melbourne did not retain its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of benzodiazepine-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne. Rather Yarra had the highest rate. Manningham remained the
LGA with the lowest rate of benzodiazepine-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of
benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, East Gippsland, Benalla and Bass Coast
had the highest population rates, followed by Greater Shepparton and Mount Alexander (Table 23).
Rates of attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
The exceptions were Greater Shepparton, Latrobe, Horsham, Ballarat, Central Goldfields, Baw Baw,
Wodonga, Wangaratta, Northern Grampians and Murrindindi, showing decreases in population rates
for benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances.
Mapped benzodiazepine-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 13 and Map 14)
and postcode (Map 15) levels.
Page 63
Table 22: Numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Melbourne
174 (7%)
173.6
Yarra
118 (4%)
146.4
Yarra
128 (5%)
162.2
Frankston
176 (6%)
133.8
Frankston
152 (6%)
116.6
Melbourne
132 (4%)
125.3
Port Phillip
112 (4%)
115.1
Port Phillip
120 (4%)
120.1
80 (3%)
106.4
Maroondah
110 (4%)
101.8
117 (4%)
82.3
Maribyrnong
86 (3%)
80.1
116 (4%)
77.7
Stonnington
Darebin
103 (4%)
72.1
Darebin
Maribyrnong
Greater Dandenong
Maroondah
77 (2%)
100.5
145 (5%)
96.2
87 (3%)
86.4
121 (4%)
84.0
71 (3%)
71.8
Whitehorse
128 (4%)
80.5
Moreland
101 (4%)
65.5
Greater Dandenong
112 (4%)
77.4
Hume
Stonnington
112 (4%)
64.3
Yarra Ranges
115 (4%)
77.2
Hobsons Bay
55 (2%)
62.9
Moonee Valley
87 (3%)
76.8
Banyule
77 (3%)
62.6
Brimbank
145 (5%)
74.9
Knox
96 (4%)
62.1
Moreland
116 (4%)
74.3
Kingston
90 (3%)
60.7
Kingston
106 (3%)
70.7
Bayside
58 (2%)
60.3
Hume
124 (4%)
69.7
66 (3%)
58.8
Banyule
86 (3%)
69.6
107 (4%)
55.9
Melton
82 (3%)
69.5
Melton
63 (2%)
55.9
Knox
107 (3%)
69.2
Whittlesea
88 (3%)
54.7
Hobsons Bay
60 (2%)
68.1
Whitehorse
83 (3%)
52.7
Whittlesea
113 (4%)
66.7
Yarra Ranges
78 (3%)
52.4
Monash
109 (4%)
60.6
Wyndham
83 (3%)
49.8
Casey
153 (5%)
57.1
Cardinia
37 (1%)
48.8
Wyndham
101 (3%)
56.3
Moonee Valley
Brimbank
126 (5%)
48.2
Bayside
54 (2%)
55.8
Monash
77 (3%)
43.4
Cardinia
43 (1%)
53.7
Nillumbik
27 (1%)
43.1
Glen Eira
67 (2%)
48.3
Glen Eira
52 (2%)
37.9
Boroondara
77 (2%)
45.8
Boroondara
51 (2%)
30.5
Nillumbik
28 (1%)
44.7
Manningham
30 (1%)
25.7
Manningham
48 (2%)
41.0
0 (0%)
-
0 (0%)
-
Casey
Rest of Melbourne
Rest of Melbourne
Page 64
Table 23: Numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Mansfield
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
12 (2%)
151.1
East Gippsland
Northern Grampians
12 (2%)
99.6
Benalla
11 (1%)
80.1
Latrobe
67 (9%)
90.8
Bass Coast
21 (3%)
68.6
Murrindindi
12 (2%)
90.0
Greater Shepparton
42 (5%)
67.4
East Gippsland
38 (5%)
88.7
Mount Alexander
12 (2%)
67.2
Horsham
17 (2%)
87.1
Latrobe
49 (6%)
66.3
9 (1%)
71.5
Moira
19 (2%)
66.3
44 (6%)
71.3
Horsham
13 (2%)
66.1
9 (1%)
65.1
Mildura
34 (4%)
65.1
7 (1%)
61.8
Campaspe
24 (3%)
64.9
26 (4%)
59.9
Mitchell
23 (3%)
63.5
137 (17%)
62.7
LGA
Central Goldfields
Greater Shepparton
Benalla
Ararat
Baw Baw
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
43 (5%)
99.6
Ballarat
56 (8%)
58.8
Greater Geelong
Wangaratta
16 (2%)
58.8
Strathbogie
6 (1%)
62.1
10 (1%)
61.0
Moira
16 (2%)
56.3
Corangamite
Mildura
29 (4%)
56.0
Moorabool
17 (2%)
57.9
Bass Coast
16 (2%)
52.9
Ballarat
56 (7%)
57.7
12 (2%)
57.2
7 (1%)
55.6
Wodonga
Greater Geelong
Wellington
Mount Alexander
19 (3%)
52.7
Swan Hill
108 (15%)
50.0
Central Goldfields
20 (3%)
47.5
Baw Baw
24 (3%)
54.1
8 (1%)
44.8
Greater Bendigo
55 (7%)
53.0
7 (1%)
42.4
Wellington
21 (3%)
49.7
18 (2%)
42.0
Wodonga
18 (2%)
49.1
Glenelg
8 (1%)
40.3
Warrnambool
16 (2%)
48.5
Mitchell
14 (2%)
39.9
Wangaratta
13 (2%)
47.7
Greater Bendigo
39 (5%)
38.2
Hepburn
7 (1%)
47.5
Campaspe
14 (2%)
38.0
Golden Plains
9 (1%)
46.3
Moorabool
10 (1%)
34.9
Macedon Ranges
20 (3%)
46.0
5 (1%)
34.2
Glenelg
9 (1%)
45.5
Corangamite
Macedon Ranges
Hepburn
7 (1%)
33.5
Northern Grampians
5 (1%)
41.8
10 (1%)
30.6
Murrindindi
5 (1%)
37.2
Southern Grampians
5 (1%)
30.2
Southern Grampians
6 (1%)
36.6
Colac-Otway
5 (1%)
24.0
Moyne
5 (1%)
30.8
18.2
Surf Coast
7 (1%)
25.6
Colac- Otway
5 (1%)
24.1
South Gippsland
6 (1%)
21.6
29 (4%)
-
Swan Hill
Warrnambool
South Gippsland
5 (1%)
37 (6%)
-
Page 65
Map 13: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 66
Map 14: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victoria LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 67
Map 15: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 68
Trends over time in benzodiazepine-related attendances
The data displayed in Figure 27 indicates a slight upward trend in month-to-month benzodiazepinerelated attendances over the past two years in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, with
some fluctuations. The pattern over the longer period indicates a slight upward trend in
benzodiazepine-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne over time (Figure 28).
Figure 27: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 69
Figure 28: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13
Page 70
Chapter 10: Inhalant-Related Attendances
Characteristics of inhalant-related attendances
Characteristics of inhalant-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria are
shown in Table 24. The daily rate of regional Victorian inhalant-related attendances in 2012/13 was
significantly higher than in 2011/12 (p<0.05). When compared with the preceding year, the proportion
of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased in metropolitan Melbourne while the
proportion decreased in regional Victoria; neither change was statistically significant.
Table 24: Characteristics of inhalant-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
2011/12
2012/13
p
135
122
(32.9)
(29.1)
0.37
0.33
0.451
(0.66)
(0.58)
0-4
0-3
43
(32%)
24
(11.64)
23
(<1 - 70)
78
(58%)
79
(60%)
57
(45%)
46
(34%)
98
(74%)
29
(24%)
23
(11.22)
18
(14 - 81)
62
(53%)
80
(69%)
54
(49%)
46
(38%)
76
(80%)
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
p
14
31
(9.8)
(21.5)
0.04
0.08
0.033
(0.22)
(0.36)
0-2
0-4
0.140
<5
0.488
0.469
37
(19.05)
33
(3 - 80)
11
(79%)
5
(36%)
<5
6
(19%)
28
(17.86)
24
(13 - 76)
20
(65%)
10
(34%)
<5
0.532
<5
0.254
13
(93%)
0.352
0.123
5
(16%)
20
(80%)
0.071
0.328
0.934
0.283
Day of week and time of day of inhalant-related attendances
As displayed in Figure 29 and Figure 30, the distribution of attendances in metropolitan Melbourne
across the times of the day and days of the week in 2012/13 and 2011/12 was variable due to the low
numbers of cases. The peak days (aggregating all times) in 2012/13 were Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday in metropolitan Melbourne, and Thursday in regional Victoria. The peak times (aggregating all
days) in 2012/13 were between 6pm and 6am in metropolitan Melbourne, and between 12pm and
6pm in regional Victoria.
Page 71
Figure 29: Proportion of inhalant-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 30: Proportion of inhalant-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Page 72
Inhalant-related attendances in local government areas
Inhalant-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for inhalant-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Maroondah, Melbourne and Greater Dandenong (Table 25). Rates of
attendances decreased in Melbourne and Frankston LGAs when compared with the previous year.
Greater Dandenong, Whitehorse and Casey showed increases in rates. Maroondah replaced
Melbourne as the LGA with the highest rate of inhalant-related attendances in metropolitan
Melbourne. In regional Victoria, although numbers are small Mildura, Ballarat and Greater Bendigo
were the LGAs with the highest rates of inhalant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 (Table
26).
Mapped inhalant-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 16 and Map 17) and
Table 25: Numbers of inhalant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
Melbourne
Maribyrnong
Yarra
Frankston
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
19 (14%)
19.0
Maroondah
14 (12%)
13.0
9 (7%)
12.0
Melbourne
11 (9%)
10.4
12 (10%)
8.3
9 (7%)
6.8
7 (5%)
8.9
Greater Dandenong
10 (8%)
7.7
Frankston
6 (5%)
6.9
Whitehorse
10 (8%)
6.3
10 (7%)
5.6
Brimbank
7 (6%)
3.6
Port Phillip
5 (4%)
5.1
Casey
9 (7%)
3.4
Wyndham
7 (5%)
4.2
Kingston
5 (4%)
3.3
Brimbank
7 (5%)
3.7
Monash
5 (4%)
2.8
Glen Eira
5 (4%)
3.6
Greater Dandenong
5 (4%)
3.5
Whitehorse
5 (4%)
3.2
6 (4%)
2.3
39 (32%)
-
Hobsons Bay
Monash
Casey
Rest of Melbourne
34 (26%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
Table 26: Numbers of inhalant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
14 (100%)
-
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Mildura
5 (16%)
9.6
Ballarat
6 (19%)
6.2
Greater Bendigo
5 (16%)
4.8
Greater Geelong
7 (23%)
8 (26%)
3.2
-
Page 73
Map 16: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 74
Map 17: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 75
Map 18: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 76
Trends over time in inhalant-related attendances
Figure 31 shows a slight upward trend in inhalant-related attendances across metropolitan Melbourne
in the past two years, peaking in March 2012. There were only a few months in 2012/13 where there
were more than four inhalant-related attendances in regional Victoria. An overall downward trend in
numbers of inhalant-related attendances is shown in metropolitan Melbourne over the last decade
(Figure 32).
Figure 31: Inhalant-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 77
Figure 32: Inhalant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 78
Chapter 11: All Heroin-Related Attendances
This section provides analysis of all heroin-related attendances, combining heroin overdose
attendances, as reported in Chapter 12, with other heroin-related attendances, as reported in Chapter
13. Other drugs and alcohol may have also been ingested.
Characteristics of all heroin-related attendances
The characteristics of all heroin-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria
are shown in Table 27. In metropolitan Melbourne, the mean age of patients and the proportion of
cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in 2012/13 compared with
the previous year (p<0.001). No statistically significant changes were found for characteristics of
interest in regional Victoria.
Table 27: Characteristics of heroin-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
2011/12
2012/13
p
1964
1901
(478.0)
(454.0)
5.37
5.21
0.446
(2.8)
(2.9)
0 - 17
0 - 17
357
(18%)
32
(12.67)
33
(<1 - 70)
1361
(69%)
1220
(63%)
1116
(58%)
315
(16%)
672
(35%)
348
(18%)
35
(9.53)
34
(<1 - 85)
1325
(70%)
1168
(62%)
1037
(56%)
337
(18%)
706
(43%)
0.902
<0.001
0.820
0.616
0.125
0.147
<0.001
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
p
106
102
(74.2)
(70.9)
0.29
0.28
0.817
(0.6)
(0.6)
0-3
0-3
25
(24%)
34
(12.50)
35
(<1 - 69)
73
(69%)
26
(26%)
22
(78%)
10
(9%)
51
(50%)
19
(18%)
35
(9.38)
35
(18 - 62)
69
(68%)
28
(29%)
24
(82%)
15
(14%)
51
(62%)
0.340
0.546
0.854
0.596
0.742
0.267
0.111
Day of week and time of day of all heroin-related attendances
The distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the week were similar for
2012/13 and 2011/12 for metropolitan Melbourne (Figure 33), while the pattern changed in 2012/13 in
regional Victoria, with different peak days and times (Figure 34). The peak days (aggregating all
times) in 2012/13 were Wednesday and Friday in metropolitan Melbourne, and Tuesday in regional
Victoria. The peak times (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 were between 12pm and 6pm in
metropolitan Melbourne, and between 6pm and midnight in regional Victoria.
Page 79
Figure 33: Proportion of heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 34: Proportion of heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Page 80
All heroin-related attendances in local government areas
All heroin-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for all heroin-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong (Table 28). Rates of attendances
decreased across most LGAs when compared with the previous year. Those that increased included:
Yarra, Port Phillip, Greater Dandenong, Stonnington, Frankston, Whitehorse, Moonee Valley,
Banyule, Kingston, Bayside and Hume. Yarra retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of
all heroin-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of all heroin-related
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 and the highest population rates, followed by Ballarat and
Wodonga (Table 28). Rates of attendances decreased for most the LGAs shown in Table 28 when
compared with the previous year.
Mapped all heroin-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 19 and Map 20) and
Page 81
Table 28: Numbers of all heroin-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne
- 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Yarra
336 (17%)
425.8
Yarra
352 (19%)
436.7
Maribyrnong
190 (10%)
252.8
Melbourne
193 (10%)
183.1
Melbourne
231 (12%)
230.4
Maribyrnong
138 (7%)
180.2
Port Phillip
103 (5%)
105.9
Port Phillip
120 (6%)
120.1
Brimbank
178 (9%)
93.0
Greater Dandenong
134 (7%)
92.6
Greater Dandenong
118 (6%)
83.0
Brimbank
166 (9%)
85.7
Darebin
89 (5%)
62.3
Stonnington
57 (3%)
56.6
Stonnington
48 (2%)
48.6
Frankston
59 (3%)
44.9
Hobsons Bay
37 (2%)
42.3
Whitehorse
67 (4%)
42.1
Moonee Valley
43 (2%)
38.3
Darebin
60 (3%)
41.6
Maroondah
37 (2%)
34.5
Moonee Valley
45 (2%)
39.7
Moreland
51 (3%)
33.1
Hobsons Bay
34 (2%)
38.6
Monash
57 (3%)
32.1
Maroondah
34 (2%)
31.5
Frankston
40 (2%)
30.7
Moreland
47 (3%)
30.1
Whitehorse
47 (2%)
29.8
Banyule
34 (2%)
27.5
Whittlesea
42 (2%)
26.1
Kingston
39 (2%)
26.0
Banyule
30 (2%)
24.4
Monash
42 (2%)
23.4
Glen Eira
32 (2%)
23.3
Whittlesea
36 (2%)
21.2
Kingston
34 (2%)
22.9
Knox
30 (2%)
19.4
Melton
25 (1%)
22.2
Bayside
17 (1%)
17.6
Knox
32 (2%)
20.7
Hume
30 (2%)
16.9
Boroondara
26 (1%)
15.6
Wyndham
27 (1%)
15.0
Wyndham
26 (1%)
15.6
Glen Eira
20 (1%)
14.4
Yarra Ranges
21 (1%)
14.1
Boroondara
24 (1%)
14.3
Casey
35 (2%)
13.4
Yarra Ranges
20 (1%)
13.4
21 (1%)
12.0
Melton
15 (1%)
12.7
11 (0.5%)
11.4
Casey
33 (2%)
12.3
Manningham
12 (1%)
10.3
Manningham
9 (0.5%)
7.7
6 (0.3%)
4.0
Cardinia
5 (0.3%)
6.2
Rest of Melbourne
6 (0.4%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
6 (0.3%)
-
Hume
Bayside
Table 29: Numbers of all heroin-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
Greater Geelong
East Gippsland
Greater Bendigo
Ballarat
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
39 (37%)
18.1
Greater Geelong
36 (35%)
16.5
7 (7%)
16.3
Ballarat
15 (15%)
15.5
11 (10%)
10.8
Wodonga
5 (5%)
13.7
9 (9%)
9.5
Baw Baw
6 (6%)
13.5
5 (5%)
4.8
Greater Bendigo
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
39 (37%)
-
36 (35%)
-
* % of regional Victoria
Page 82
Map 19: Heroin-related attendances by metropolitan Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 83
Map 20: Heroin-related attendances by regional Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 84
Map 21: Heroin-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 85
Trends over time in all heroin-related attendances
As can be seen from Figure 35, there was a slight decline in all heroin-related attendances over the
two years July 2011 to June 2013 in metropolitan Melbourne, and a stable trend between July 2011
and June 2013 in regional Victoria (Figure 35). After an initial drop, there was a rapid increase from
2005/06 to over approximately 2,000 attendances in 2009/10 in metropolitan Melbourne followed by a
slight drop from 2010/11 to 2012/13 (Figure 36).
Figure 35: Heroin-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 86
Figure 36: Heroin-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 87
Chapter 12: Heroin Overdose (Responding to
Naloxone) Attendances
Heroin overdose attendances are included in this section where there is a positive response to the
administration of naloxone (an opioid antagonist) for those people attended by an ambulance and
where there was no indication that the overdose resulted from another opioid such as morphine or
methadone. Other drugs and alcohol may also have been ingested.
Characteristics of heroin overdose attendances (responding to
naloxone)
The data displayed in Table 30 shows the characteristics of heroin overdose ambulance attendances
in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in 2011/12 and 2012/13. The daily rate of heroin
overdose attendances in metropolitan Melbourne in 2012/13 was significantly lower than in 2011/12
(p<0.01). There was a significant increase in the mean age of patients in 2012/13 when compared
with 2011/12 (p<0.001). In regional Victoria, the proportion of cases where the patient was
transported to hospital decreased non-significantly.
Table 30: Characteristics of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
1104
960
(268.7)
(229.4)
3.02
2.63
0.008
(2.01)
(1.90)
0-9
0 - 12
187
166
0.830
(17%)
(17%)
33
36
<0.001
(13.43)
(9.62)
33
35
(<1 - 70)
(<1 - 85)
792
700
0.584
(72%)
(73%)
674
587
0.946
(62%)
(61%)
633
540
0.499
(58%)
(57%)
129
129
0.222
(12%)
(13%)
245
202
0.355
(23%)
(24%)
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
44
38
(30.8)
(26.1)
0.12
0.10
(0.35)
(0.33)
0-2
0-2
9
5
(20%)
(13%)
34
35
(14.14)
(10.25)
34
35
(<1 - 69)
(19 - 62)
34
27
(77%)
(72%)
8
9
(19%)
(26%)
7
9
(88%)
(87%)
<5
<5
12
(30%)
9
(28%)
p
0.496
0.390
0.489
0.602
0.444
0.977
0.822
Day of week and time of day of heroin overdose attendances
(responding to naloxone)
As shown in Figure 37 and Figure 38, the distribution of attendances across the times of the day and
days of the week were similar for both 2012/13 and 2011/12 in metropolitan Melbourne, while the
pattern changed from 2011/12 in regional Victoria. The peak days (aggregating all times) were
Thursday and Friday in metropolitan Melbourne, and Tuesday in regional Victoria in 2012/13. In
2012/13, the peak times (aggregating all days) were between 12pm and 6pm in metropolitan
Melbourne, and between 6pm and midnight in regional Victoria.
Page 88
Page 89
Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) in local
government areas
Heroin overdose attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by local
government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 31 and for regional Victoria in Table 32. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for heroin overdose ambulance
decreased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year. Exceptions included:
Yarra, Stonnington, Frankston, Whitehorse, Wyndham, and Hume. Yarra retained its ranking as the
LGA with the highest rate of heroin overdose attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of heroin overdose
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 and the highest population rate (Table 32).
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Yarra
195 (18%)
247.1
Yarra
206 (21.6%)
255.6
Maribyrnong
112 (10%)
149.0
Melbourne
101 (10.6%)
95.8
Melbourne
133 (12%)
132.7
Maribyrnong
73 (7.6%)
95.3
Port Phillip
61 (6%)
62.7
Port Phillip
54 (5.7%)
54.1
75 (7%)
52.8
Greater Dandenong
70 (7.3%)
48.4
101 (9%)
52.7
Brimbank
79 (8.3%)
40.8
33 (3.5%)
32.8
Greater Dandenong
Brimbank
Darebin
50 (5%)
35.0
Stonnington
Hobsons Bay
21 (2%)
24.0
Frankston
32 (3.4%)
24.3
34 (3.6%)
21.4
Stonnington
22 (2%)
22.3
Whitehorse
Maroondah
23 (2%)
21.4
Darebin
28 (2.9%)
19.4
20 (2.1%)
17.7
Moonee Valley
22 (2%)
19.6
Moonee Valley
Moreland
28 (3%)
18.2
Hobsons Bay
15 (1.6%)
17.0
Whitehorse
28 (3%)
17.8
Moreland
25 (2.6%)
16.0
Banyule
20 (2%)
16.3
Maroondah
16 (1.7%)
14.8
Monash
28 (3%)
15.8
Banyule
17 (1.8%)
13.8
Whittlesea
21 (2%)
13.1
Monash
21 (2.2%)
11.7
Frankston
17 (2%)
13.0
Kingston
16 (1.7%)
10.7
Knox
19 (2%)
12.3
Whittlesea
18 (1.9%)
10.6
Kingston
18 (2%)
12.1
Wyndham
15 (1.6%)
8.4
Melton
13 (1%)
11.5
Knox
13 (1.4%)
8.4
Glen Eira
15 (1%)
10.9
Glen Eira
10 (1.0%)
7.2
Wyndham
18 (1.9%)
6.7
6 (0.6%)
6.2
13 (1%)
7.8
Casey
Manningham
9 (1%)
7.7
Bayside
Yarra Ranges
11 (1%)
7.4
Melton
7 (0.7%)
5.9
Casey
18 (2%)
6.9
Hume
10 (1.0%)
5.6
Boroondara
10 (1%)
6.0
Boroondara
8 (0.8%)
4.8
8 (1%)
4.6
Hume
Rest of Melbourne
10 (1%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
10 (1.0%)
-
Page 90
LGA
Greater Geelong
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
18 (41%)
8.3
26 (59%)
-
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
22 (58%)
10.1
Ballarat
7 (18%)
7.2
9 (24%)
-
LGA
Greater Geelong
Trends over time in heroin overdose attendances (responding to
naloxone)
The data displayed in Figure 39 shows that heroin overdose attendances have followed a slightly
downward trend over the period July 2011 to June 2013 in metropolitan Melbourne. There were only a
few months with more than four heroin overdose attendances in regional Victoria during the same
time period. After an initial drop, there was a rapid increase from 2005/06 to over 1,200 attendances
in 2009/10 in metropolitan Melbourne followed by a slight drop from 2010/11 to 2012/13 (Figure 40).
Figure 39: Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 91
Figure 40: Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13
Page 92
Chapter 13: Other Heroin-Related Attendances
This section excludes analysis of heroin overdose attendances with response to naloxone, the results
of which were presented in the previous chapter. ‘Other heroin’ events are included in this section and
are attendances where evidence of heroin use is established through the clinical assessment of the
ambulance paramedic and/or by the patient or his or her associates at the scene, but naloxone was
not administered. In these cases, other drugs and alcohol may have also been ingested.
Characteristics of other heroin-related attendances
As shown in Table 33, across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportions of cases
where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly (p<0.001; p<0.05, respectively).
In metropolitan Melbourne, the mean age of patients increased significantly (p<0.001).
Table 33: Characteristics of other heroin-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
860
940
(209.3)
(224.6)
2.35
2.58
0.085
(1.66)
(1.89)
0-9
0 - 11
170
(20%)
32
(<1 - 61)
33
(<1 - 70)
569
(66%)
546
(65%)
483
(58%)
186
(22%)
427
(50%)
182
(19%)
33
(<1 - 70)
35
(<1 - 85)
625
(66%)
581
(63%)
497
(54%)
208
(22%)
504
(63%)
0.834
<0.001
0.917
0.427
0.152
0.782
<0.001
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
62
65
(43.4)
(44.8)
0.17
0.18
0.807
(0.44)
(0.42)
0-3
0-2
16
(26%)
35
(<1 - 55)
34
(<1 - 69)
39
(63%)
18
(31%)
15
(75%)
9
(15%)
39
(63%)
14
(21%)
35
(18 - 53)
35
(19 - 62)
42
(65%)
19
(31%)
15
(79%)
11
(16%)
42
(84%)
0.533
0.837
0.804
0.988
0.765
0.762
0.013
Day of week and time of day of other heroin-related attendances
As shown in Figure 41, the distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the
week were similar for both 2012/13 and 2011/12 in metropolitan Melbourne, while the pattern
changed from 2011/12 in regional Victoria (Figure 42). The peak day (aggregating all times) was
Wednesday in metropolitan Melbourne, and Saturday in regional Victoria in 2012/13. In 2012/13, the
peak times (aggregating all days) were between 12pm and 6pm in metropolitan Melbourne, and
between 6pm and midnight in regional Victoria.
Page 93
Figure 41: Proportion of other heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 42: Proportion of other heroin-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
Page 94
Other heroin-related attendances in local government areas
Other heroin-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison)
by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 34 and for regional Victoria in Table 35. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for other heroin-related ambulance
increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year. The exceptions included
Melbourne, Maribyrnong, Stonnington, Darebin and Moreland among others. Yarra retained its ranking
as the LGA with the highest rate of other heroin-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne.
Melbourne and Maribyrnong remained in the top three however reversing their order.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of other heroinrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Wodonga and Baw Baw had the highest population rates,
followed by Ballarat and Greater Geelong (Table 35).
Table 34: Numbers of other heroin-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne
- 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
141 (16%)
178.7
Yarra
78 (9%)
103.8
Melbourne
Melbourne
98 (11%)
97.8
Port Phillip
42 (5%)
43.2
Brimbank
77 (9%)
Greater Dandenong
43 (5%)
Darebin
Stonnington
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
146 (16%)
181.1
92 (10%)
87.3
Maribyrnong
65 (7%)
84.9
Port Phillip
66 (7%)
66.1
40.2
Brimbank
87 (9%)
44.9
30.2
Greater Dandenong
64 (7%)
44.2
39 (5%)
27.3
Stonnington
24 (3%)
23.8
25 (3%)
25.3
Darebin
32 (3%)
22.2
Moonee Valley
21 (2%)
18.7
Moonee Valley
25 (3%)
22.1
Hobsons Bay
16 (2%)
18.3
Hobsons Bay
19 (2%)
21.6
Frankston
23 (3%)
17.6
Whitehorse
33 (4%)
20.8
Monash
29 (3%)
16.4
Frankston
27 (3%)
20.5
Moreland
23 (3%)
14.9
Maroondah
18 (2%)
16.7
Whittlesea
21 (2%)
13.1
Kingston
23 (3%)
15.3
Maroondah
14 (2%)
13.0
Moreland
22 (2%)
14.1
Glen Eira
16 (2%)
11.7
Banyule
17 (2%)
13.8
Melton
13 (2%)
11.5
Monash
21 (2%)
11.7
Whitehorse
18 (2%)
11.4
Bayside
11 (1%)
11.4
Kingston
16 (2%)
10.8
Hume
20 (2%)
11.2
Boroondara
16 (2%)
9.6
Knox
17 (2%)
11.0
18 (2%)
10.6
Yarra
Maribyrnong
Wyndham
14 (2%)
8.4
Whittlesea
Knox
13 (2%)
8.4
Boroondara
16 (2%)
9.5
13 (2%)
7.5
Yarra Ranges
14 (2%)
9.4
9 (1%)
7.3
Glen Eira
10 (1%)
7.2
8 (1%)
6.8
Hume
Banyule
Yarra Ranges
10 (1%)
6.7
Melton
Casey
17 (2%)
6.5
Wyndham
12 (1%)
6.7
5 (0.5%)
5.2
Casey
15 (2%)
5.6
5 (1%)
3.3
Manningham
6 (1%)
5.1
-
Rest of Melbourne
Bayside
Rest of Melbourne
6 (1%)
10 (1%)
-
Page 95
Table 35: Numbers of other heroin-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
6 (10%)
14.0
Wodonga
Greater Geelong
21 (34%)
9.7
Baw Baw
Greater Bendigo
7 (11%)
6.9
Ballarat
6 (9%)
6.3
-
East Gippsland
Ballarat
22 (36%)
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
5 (8%)
13.7
5 (8%)
11.3
8 (12%)
8.2
Greater Geelong
14 (22%)
6.4
33 (51%)
-
* % of regional Victoria
Trends over time in other heroin-related attendances
As shown in Figure 43, the number and rate of other heroin-related attendances in metropolitan
Melbourne fluctuated with an overall stable trend between July 2011 and June 2013. Similar to heroin
overdose data presented in the previous chapter, the numbers of other heroin-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne have been increasing since 2005/06 (Figure 44).
Figure 43: Other heroin-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 96
Figure 44: Other heroin-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 97
Chapter 14: GHB-Related Attendances
Data on GHB have been collected since March 2001.
Characteristics of GHB-related attendances
The daily rate of GHB-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne increased significantly when
compared with the preceding year (p<0.001) (Table 36). Significant increases were seen in the
proportions of events occurring in public and outdoor spaces, co-attended by police, cases where the
patient was transported to hospital, while there was a significant decrease in cases where alcohol was
also involved (all p<0.01). In regional Victoria, the mean age of patients attended decreased
significantly (p<0.05).
Table 36: Characteristics of GHB-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
407
578
(99.0)
(138.1)
1.11
1.58
<0.001
(1.27)
(1.73)
0-7
0 - 13
132
(32%)
26
(10.22)
24
(<1 - 66)
242
(59%)
240
(61%)
219
(57%)
77
(19%)
330
(82%)
135
(23%)
25
(6.56)
23
(4 - 58)
341
(59%)
391
(69%)
375
(67%)
158
(27%)
490
(92%)
0.001
0.046
0.883
0.004
0.001
0.002
<0.001
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
41
42
(28.4)
(29.0)
0.11
0.11
0.879
(0.33)
(0.36)
0-2
0-2
16
(39%)
31
(13.77)
27
(14 - 73)
23
(56%)
14
(35%)
9
(69%)
5
(12%)
35
(86%)
14
(33%)
26
(7.79)
24
(15 - 47)
26
(62%)
18
(44%)
14
(70%)
8
(19%)
35
(97%)
0.578
0.016
0.595
0.404
0.951
0.363
0.082
Day of week and time of day of GHB-related attendances
As shown in Figure 45 and Figure 46, the distributions of attendances across the times of the day and
days of the week were different from the previous year. The peak day (aggregating all times) in
metropolitan Melbourne in 2012/13 was Sunday, while in regional Victoria the peak day was Friday.
The peak times (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 were between 6pm and midnight in metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Page 98
Figure 45: Proportion of GHB-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 46: Proportion of GHB-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and
2012/13
Page 99
GHB-related attendances in local government areas
GHB-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in (Table 37) and for regional Victoria in (Table 38).
In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for GHB-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Stonnington (Table 37). Rates of
Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of GHB-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne. Port Phillip and Stonnington remained in the top three however reversing
their order.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of GHBrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Moorabool, Wellington and Latrobe had the highest
population rates, followed by Greater Geelong (Table 38).
Mapped GHB-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 22 and Map 23) and
Page 100
Table 37: Numbers of GHB-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
79 (19%)
78.8
Melbourne
212 (36%)
201.2
Stonnington
29 (7%)
29.3
Port Phillip
29 (5%)
29.0
Port Phillip
23 (6%)
23.6
Stonnington
25 (4%)
24.8
Yarra
14 (4%)
17.7
Frankston
26 (5%)
19.8
Moonee Valley
17 (4%)
15.2
Yarra
16 (3%)
19.8
Maribyrnong
11 (3%)
14.6
Kingston
22 (4%)
14.7
Moreland
19 (5%)
12.3
20 (3%)
13.3
Frankston
15 (4%)
11.5
Maribyrnong
10 (2%)
13.1
Nillumbik
7 (2%)
11.2
Hume
21 (4%)
11.8
Knox
17 (4%)
11.0
Knox
17 (3%)
11.0
Whitehorse
13 (3%)
8.3
Greater Dandenong
15 (3%)
10.4
Darebin
11 (3%)
7.7
Melton
12 (2%)
10.2
11 (3%)
7.4
Cardinia
8 (1%)
10.0
Boroondara
12 (3%)
7.2
Darebin
13 (2%)
9.0
Greater Dandenong
10 (3%)
7.0
Boroondara
15 (3%)
8.9
Hume
12 (3%)
6.9
Maroondah
9 (2%)
8.3
Whittlesea
11 (3%)
6.8
Moonee Valley
9 (2%)
7.9
Kingston
10 (2%)
6.7
Glen Eira
11 (2%)
7.9
Brimbank
12 (3%)
6.3
Moreland
12 (2%)
7.7
Monash
11 (3%)
6.2
Casey
19 (3%)
7.1
Melton
7 (2%)
6.2
Manningham
8 (1%)
6.8
Casey
Melbourne
16 (4%)
6.1
Whittlesea
9 (2%)
5.3
Hobsons Bay
5 (1%)
5.7
Brimbank
10 (2%)
5.2
Banyule
5 (1%)
4.1
Banyule
6 (1%)
4.9
Wyndham
6 (1%)
3.6
Whitehorse
6 (1%)
3.8
Glen Eira
5 (1%)
3.6
Monash
5 (1%)
2.8
Yarra Ranges
5 (1%)
3.4
Rest of Melbourne
12 (3%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
12 (2%)
-
Table 38: Numbers of GHB-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12
and 2012/13
LGA
Latrobe
Greater Geelong
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
7 (17%)
9.5
Moorabool
5 (12%)
17.0
4.6
Wellington
5 (12%)
11.8
Latrobe
7 (17%)
9.5
Greater Geelong
8 (19%)
3.7
10 (24%)
23 (59%)
-
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
17 (41%)
-
Page 101
Map 22: GHB-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 102
Map 23: GHB-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 103
Map 24: GHB-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 104
Trends over time in GHB-related attendances
The data displayed in Figure 47 shows that the number and rate of GHB-related attendances across
metropolitan Melbourne fluctuated with an overall upward trend over the past two years. As shown,
there were only a few months where there were more than four attendances in regional Victoria. As
can be seen from Figure 48, with the exception of 2007/08 which recorded a drop, there was a
marked increase in the number of attendances over time to approximately 600 in 2012/13.
Figure 47: GHB-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 105
Figure 48: GHB-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 106
Chapter 15: Anticonvulsant-Related Attendances
This section includes attendances related to selected anticonvulsants that are used for treatment of
psychiatric conditions. Data pertaining to anticonvulsant-related attendances were collected from May
2000.
Characteristics of anticonvulsant-related attendances
The data displayed in Table 39 details the characteristics of anticonvulsant-related ambulance
attendances in 2011/12 and 2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In regional
Victoria, the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly
when compared with the preceding year (p<0.01).
Table 39: Characteristics of anticonvulsant-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
197
230
(48.0)
(54.9)
0.110
0.54
0.63
(0.74)
(0.81)
0-5
0-5
69
(35%)
38
(13.64)
38
(2 - 79)
95
(48%)
36
(18%)
28
(15%)
33
(17%)
189
(96%)
64
(28%)
39
(15.59)
38
(1 - 100)
94
(41%)
57
(25%)
37
(16%)
29
(13%)
218
(98%)
0.100
0.387
0.135
0.084
0.588
0.215
0.271
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
89
104
(62.0)
(72.1)
0.268
0.24
0.28
(0.53)
(0.52)
0-3
0-2
26
(29%)
38
(15.20)
38
(3 - 91)
37
(42%)
15
(17%)
9
(61%)
6
(7%)
78
(88%)
34
(33%)
38
(14.97)
39
(1 - 89)
51
(49%)
14
(14%)
5
(31%)
14
(13%)
99
(99%)
0.587
0.857
0.287
0.580
0.094
0.118
0.001
Day of week and time of day of anticonvulsant-related attendances
As shown in Figure 49 and Figure 50, the distributions of anticonvulsant-related attendances across
times of the day and days of the week in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in
2012/13 were different from the previous year. The peak day (aggregating all times) in metropolitan
Melbourne in 2012/13 was Wednesday, while the peak day in regional Victoria was Tuesday. The
peak time (aggregating all days) was between 6pm and midnight in both metropolitan Melbourne and
regional Victoria.
Page 107
Figure 49: Proportion of anticonvulsant-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 50: Proportion of anticonvulsant-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 108
Anticonvulsant-related attendances in local government areas
Anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
Victoria in Table 41. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for
anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip
and Frankston (Table 40). Only Frankston featured in the top three in consecutive years.
anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, South Gippsland, Mitchell and Bass Coast
had the highest population rates, followed by Latrobe and Greater Shepparton (Table 41).
Mapped anticonvulsant-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 25 and Map 26)
Table 40: Numbers of anticonvulsant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
Rate** LGA
Frankston
16 (8%)
12.3
20 (9%)
Rate*
*13.3
Greater Dandenong
14 (7%)
9.8
Port Phillip
11 (5%)
11.0
N (%*)
N (%*)
9 (4%)
7.3
Frankston
14 (6%)
10.6
Knox
11 (6%)
7.1
Greater Dandenong
13 (6%)
9.0
Whitehorse
11 (6%)
7.0
Yarra
7 (3%)
8.7
Maribyrnong
5 (3%)
6.7
Melbourne
8 (4%)
7.6
Maroondah
7 (4%)
6.5
Cardinia
6 (3%)
7.5
Melton
7 (3%)
6.2
Hume
13 (6%)
7.3
Banyule
9 (5%)
6.1
Casey
19 (8%)
7.1
15 (8%)
5.7
Whitehorse
11 (5%)
6.9
Moonee Valley
6 (3%)
5.3
Hobsons Bay
6 (3%)
6.8
Hume
9 (5%)
5.2
Maroondah
7 (3%)
6.5
Moreland
8 (4%)
5.2
Maribyrnong
5 (2%)
6.5
Darebin
7 (4%)
4.9
Melton
6 (3%)
5.1
Wyndham
8 (4%)
4.8
Banyule
6 (3%)
4.9
6 (3%)
4.0
Yarra Ranges
7 (3%)
4.7
Brimbank
7 (3%)
3.7
Knox
7 (3%)
4.5
Monash
5 (3%)
2.8
Moreland
7 (3%)
4.5
Moonee Valley
5 (2%)
4.4
Brimbank
8 (4%)
4.1
Whittlesea
6 (3%)
3.5
Monash
6 (3%)
3.3
6 (3%)
3.3
Kingston
Casey
Wyndham
Rest of Melbourne
37 (19%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
26 (11%)
-
Page 109
Table 41: Numbers of anticonvulsant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Warrnambool
7 (8%)
21.4
South Gippsland
7 (7%)
25.2
Bass Coast
6 (7%)
19.8
Mitchell
6 (6%)
16.6
Mildura
6 (7%)
11.6
Bass Coast
5 (5%)
16.3
Ballarat
9 (10%)
9.5
Latrobe
11 (11%)
14.9
Latrobe
7 (8%)
9.5
Greater Shepparton
5 (5%)
8.0
Greater Bendigo
8 (9%)
7.8
Greater Geelong
17 (17%)
7.8
Greater Geelong
14 (16%)
6.5
Ballarat
6 (6%)
6.2
6 (6%)
5.8
32 (37%)
-
Greater Bendigo
40 (39%)
-
Page 110
Map 25: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 111
Map 26: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 112
Map 27: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, postcode, numbers of attendances 2012/13
Page 113
Trends over time in anticonvulsant-related attendances
The data displayed in Figure 51 shows that the number and rate of anticonvulsant-related
attendances across metropolitan Melbourne fluctuated with an overall upward trend over the past two
years, while an overall downward trend was noted across regional Victoria. As can be seen from
Figure 52, the rate of attendances dropped dramatically with some fluctuations to below 5 per 100,000
population in 2011/12.
Figure 51: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 114
Figure 52: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 115
Chapter 16: Antidepressant-Related Attendances
Characteristics of antidepressant-related attendances
The data displayed in Table 42 detail the characteristics of antidepressant-related ambulance
attendances in 2011/12 and 2012/13 across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the daily number of antidepressant-related attendances was significantly higher
in 2012/13 than in 2011/12 (p<0.001), while the mean age was lower in 2012/13 than in 2011/12
(p<0.05). In regional Victoria, there was a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the proportion of cases
involving alcohol, while there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the proportion of cases where the
patient was transported to hospital.
Table 42: Characteristics of antidepressant-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
1060
1221
(257.9)
(291.6)
2.90
3.34
<0.001
(1.63)
(1.72)
0-9
0 - 10
410
(39%)
36
(14.36)
36
(<1 - 91)
388
(37%)
188
(18%)
158
(15%)
143
(13%)
1009
(96%)
426
(35%)
35
(15.36)
33
(1 - 97)
403
(33%)
223
(18%)
195
(16%)
187
(15%)
1151
(97%)
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
435
487
(304.8)
(337.56)
1.19
1.33
0.081
(1.05)
(1.18)
0-5
0.052
0.038
0.066
0.779
0.492
0.201
0.066
196
(45%)
36
(15.92)
35
(<1 - 91)
133
(31%)
86
(20%)
51
(56%)
48
(11%)
417
(96%)
0-6
159
(33%)
34
(15.81)
31
(2 - 92)
167
(34%)
93
(19%)
45
(49%)
62
(13%)
450
(98%)
<0.001
0.092
0.233
0.737
0.310
0.413
0.033
Day of week and time of day of antidepressant-related attendances
days of the week in 2012/13 was similar to the previous year in metropolitan Melbourne and in regional
Victoria. The peak day (aggregating all times) in 2012/13 was Monday in metropolitan Melbourne, and
Saturday and Sunday in regional Victoria. The peak time (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 was between
6pm and midnight in metropolitan Melbourne and in regional Victoria.
Page 116
Figure 53: Proportion of antidepressant-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne
- 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 54: Proportion of antidepressant-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 117
Antidepressant-related attendances in local government areas
Antidepressant-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison)
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for antidepressant-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Melbourne and Cardinia (Table 43). Frankston retained its
ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of antidepressant-related attendances in metropolitan
Melbourne.
antidepressant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Benalla, East Gippsland and Horsham had
the highest population rates, followed by Latrobe and Wellington (Table 44).
Mapped antidepressant-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 28 and Map 29)
Page 118
Table 43: Numbers of antidepressant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Frankston
72 (7%)
55.2
Frankston
72 (6%)
54.7
Melbourne
47 (4%)
46.9
Melbourne
48 (4%)
45.5
Greater Dandenong
55 (5%)
38.7
Cardinia
33 (3%)
41.2
Hume
62 (6%)
35.6
Maroondah
44 (4%)
40.7
Melton
37 (4%)
32.8
Melton
47 (4%)
39.8
Maribyrnong
24 (2%)
31.9
55 (5%)
36.5
Casey
78 (7%)
29.9
Greater Dandenong
52 (4%)
35.9
Maroondah
32 (3%)
29.8
Yarra Ranges
49 (4%)
32.9
Hobsons Bay
26 (2%)
29.7
Knox
50 (4%)
32.3
36 (3%)
31.8
44 (4%)
29.5
Moonee Valley
Knox
45 (4%)
29.1
Casey
85 (7%)
31.7
49 (4%)
31.4
Yarra
23 (2%)
29.1
Moreland
Wyndham
47 (4%)
28.2
Hobsons Bay
26 (2%)
29.5
52 (4%)
29.2
Cardinia
21 (2%)
27.7
Hume
Stonnington
27 (3%)
27.3
Darebin
42 (4%)
29.1
22 (2%)
28.7
Darebin
38 (4%)
26.6
Maribyrnong
Banyule
32 (3%)
26.0
Yarra
23 (2%)
28.5
Port Phillip
25 (2%)
25.7
Brimbank
54 (4%)
27.9
Yarra Ranges
36 (3%)
24.2
Wyndham
49 (4%)
27.3
Moreland
33 (3%)
21.4
Monash
49 (4%)
27.3
Nillumbik
13 (1%)
20.7
Nillumbik
16 (1%)
25.5
Whittlesea
33 (3%)
20.5
Port Phillip
25 (2%)
25.0
Kingston
29 (3%)
19.6
Kingston
37 (3%)
24.7
Brimbank
37 (4%)
19.3
Stonnington
22 (2%)
21.9
Whitehorse
28 (3%)
17.8
Whitehorse
33 (3%)
20.8
Glen Eira
24 (2%)
17.5
Whittlesea
34 (3%)
20.1
Moonee Valley
19 (2%)
16.9
Boroondara
33 (3%)
19.6
Bayside
15 (1%)
15.6
Banyule
23 (2%)
18.6
Manningham
17 (2%)
14.6
Bayside
18 (2%)
18.6
Monash
25 (2%)
14.1
Manningham
18 (2%)
15.4
Boroondara
19 (2%)
11.4
Glen Eira
21 (2%)
15.1
0 (0%)
-
0 (0%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
Rest of Melbourne
Page 119
Table 44: Numbers of antidepressant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Benalla
10 (2%)
72.8
Horsham
20 (5%)
102.4
Mansfield
6 (1%)
75.5
East Gippsland
28 (6%)
64.9
Northern Grampians
7 (2%)
58.1
Horsham
12 (3%)
61.0
7 (2%)
55.6
Latrobe
39 (8%)
52.8
East Gippsland
21 (5%)
49.0
Wellington
22 (5%)
52.0
Latrobe
33 (8%)
44.7
Southern Grampians
8 (2%)
48.8
Mildura
21 (5%)
40.5
Greater Shepparton
29 (6%)
46.5
Bass Coast
11 (3%)
36.4
Glenelg
8 (2%)
40.5
Greater Geelong
78 (18%)
36.1
Mitchell
14 (3%)
38.6
Wodonga
Central Goldfields
13 (3%)
36.1
Wangaratta
10 (2%)
36.7
Glenelg
7 (2%)
35.3
Bass Coast
11 (2%)
36.0
Swan Hill
7 (2%)
33.5
Wodonga
13 (3%)
35.5
Wangaratta
9 (2%)
33.1
Moira
10 (2%)
34.9
20 (5%)
32.4
Swan Hill
7 (2%)
33.4
9 (2%)
31.7
Greater Bendigo
34 (7%)
32.8
Baw Baw
13 (3%)
30.0
Campaspe
12 (3%)
32.5
Greater Bendigo
29 (7%)
28.4
Greater Geelong
71 (15%)
32.5
Wellington
Greater Shepparton
Moira
11 (3%)
26.1
Indigo
Mitchell
9 (2%)
25.6
Ballarat
Warrnambool
8 (2%)
24.5
Corangamite
Macedon Ranges
9 (2%)
21.0
Mildura
Moorabool
Ballarat
Campaspe
32.5
30.9
5 (1%)
30.5
15 (3%)
28.7
6 (1%)
20.9
Mount Alexander
5 (1%)
28.0
19 (4%)
20.0
Moorabool
8 (2%)
27.3
7 (2%)
19.0
South Gippsland
7 (2%)
25.2
10 (2%)
22.5
Macedon Ranges
9 (2%)
20.7
Warrnambool
5 (1%)
15.2
43 (9%)
-
Baw Baw
5 (1%)
30 (6%)
55 (13%)
-
Page 120
Map 28: Antidepressant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 121
Map 29: Antidepressant -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 122
Map 30: Antidepressant-related attendances Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 123
Trends over time in antidepressant-related attendances
The trends in the numbers and the rates of antidepressant-related attendances fluctuated in
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past two years (Figure 55). As can be seen
from Figure 56, trends in antidepressant-related attendance numbers and rates fluctuated in
metropolitan Melbourne over the past decade; 2011/12 had the lowest rate of attendances during the
period examined.
Figure 55: Antidepressant-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 124
Figure 56: Antidepressant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 125
Chapter 17 Antipsychotic-Related Attendances
Characteristics of antipsychotic-related attendances
As shown in Table 45, the daily rate of antipsychotic-related attendances increased significantly in
both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria when compared with 2011/12 (p<0.01). In regional
Victoria, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also
involved in 2012/13 when compared with 2011/12 (p<0.01).
Table 45: Characteristics of antipsychotic-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
964
1145
(234.5)
(273.5)
2.63
3.14
<0.001
(1.65)
(1.79)
0-9
0-9
313
(32%)
35
(13.48)
36
(<1 - 89)
369
(38%)
213
(22%)
159
(17%)
148
(15%)
921
(96%)
365
(32%)
36
(13.80)
35
(1 - 100)
405
(35%)
263
(23%)
213
(19%)
194
(17%)
1066
(97%)
0.778
0.593
0.166
0.626
0.185
0.304
0.268
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
337
425
(236.0)
(294.7)
0.92
1.16
0.003
(1.02)
(1.19)
0-6
0-6
119
(35%)
36
(14.86)
33
(<1 - 95)
112
(33%)
64
(19%)
35
(51%)
40
(12%)
318
(95%)
111
(26%)
34
(13.93)
32
(1 - 89)
164
(39%)
66
(16%)
29
(42%)
70
(16%)
387
(97%)
0.006
0.066
0.112
0.252
0.294
0.069
0.481
Day of week and time of day of antipsychotic-related attendances
As shown in Figure 57 and Figure 58, the distribution of metropolitan Melbourne and regional
Victorian antipsychotic-related attendances across the times of the day and days of the week in
2012/13 was slightly different when compared with the previous year. The peak days (aggregating all
times) in 2012/13 were Saturday in metropolitan Melbourne, and Saturday and Sunday in regional
Victoria. The peak times (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 were between 6pm and midnight in both
metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Page 126
Figure 57: Proportion of antipsychotic-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 58: Proportion of antipsychotic-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 127
Antipsychotic-related attendances in local government areas
Antipsychotic-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison)
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for antipsychotic-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Port Phillip and Melbourne (Table 46). Yarra rates substantially
reduced from the previous year where it had been in the top three.
Frankston retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest rate and number of antipsychotic-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne. Frankston rates and numbers of attendances increased
substantially over the two years presented.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of antipsychoticrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13, East Gippsland, Northern Grampians and Greater Bendigo
had the highest population rates, followed by Gannawarra and Latrobe (Table 47).
Mapped antipsychotic-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 31 and Map 32) and
Page 128
Table 46: Numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Frankston
65 (7%)
49.9
Frankston
84 (7%)
63.9
Yarra
37 (4%)
46.9
Port Phillip
50 (4%)
50.1
Melbourne
40 (4%)
39.9
Melbourne
43 (4%)
40.8
Port Phillip
34 (4%)
35.0
Maroondah
42 (4%)
38.9
Maroondah
37 (4%)
34.5
54 (5%)
35.8
Maribyrnong
25 (3%)
33.3
Maribyrnong
27 (2%)
35.3
Knox
51 (5%)
33.0
Stonnington
33 (3%)
32.8
Stonnington
31 (3%)
31.4
Hume
57 (5%)
32.0
43 (4%)
28.8
Yarra Ranges
47 (4%)
31.5
19 (2%)
30.3
Hobsons Bay
25 (3%)
28.6
Nillumbik
Greater Dandenong
40 (4%)
28.1
Cardinia
24 (2%)
30.0
46 (4%)
29.5
Wyndham
46 (5%)
27.6
Moreland
Yarra Ranges
36 (4%)
24.2
Greater Dandenong
42 (4%)
29.0
41 (4%)
28.5
Banyule
29 (3%)
23.6
Darebin
Moonee Valley
26 (3%)
23.2
Yarra
23 (2%)
28.5
43 (4%)
27.8
Cardinia
16 (2%)
21.1
Knox
Hume
36 (4%)
20.7
Whitehorse
43 (4%)
27.0
Darebin
29 (3%)
20.3
Melton
31 (3%)
26.3
Casey
51 (5%)
19.5
Hobsons Bay
23 (2%)
26.1
Melton
22 (2%)
19.5
Banyule
32 (3%)
25.9
Whitehorse
29 (3%)
18.4
Wyndham
44 (4%)
24.5
Bayside
17 (2%)
17.7
Monash
43 (4%)
23.9
Boroondara
27 (3%)
16.2
Brimbank
45 (4%)
23.2
Glen Eira
22 (2%)
16.0
Boroondara
39 (3%)
23.2
Monash
28 (3%)
15.8
Moonee Valley
25 (2%)
22.1
Brimbank
30 (3%)
15.7
Casey
45 (4%)
16.8
Moreland
24 (3%)
15.6
Bayside
16 (1%)
16.5
Kingston
23 (2%)
15.5
Kingston
24 (2%)
16.0
Manningham
18 (2%)
15.4
Glen Eira
20 (2%)
14.4
Whittlesea
22 (2%)
13.7
Whittlesea
24 (2%)
14.2
Nillumbik
7 (0.7%)
11.2
Manningham
12 (1%)
10.3
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
Page 129
Table 47: Numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate** LGA
Horsham
11 (3%)
56.3
East Gippsland
32 (10%)
43.4
Northern Grampians
Moira
12 (4%)
42.2
Greater Bendigo
East Gippsland
16 (5%)
37.4
Gannawarra
Greater Shepparton
21 (6%)
34.0
Latrobe
Latrobe
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
28 (7%)
64.9
7 (2%)
58.5
53 (13%)
51.1
5 (1%)
48.1
34 (8%)
46.0
9 (3%)
33.1
Mildura
24 (6%)
46.0
14 (4%)
32.3
Greater Shepparton
26 (6%)
41.7
66 (20%)
30.6
Greater Geelong
76 (18%)
34.8
15 (5%)
28.9
Corangamite
5 (1%)
30.5
Mount Alexander
5 (2%)
28.0
Warrnambool
10 (2%)
30.3
Wodonga
9 (3%)
25.0
Wodonga
11 (3%)
30.0
Wangaratta
Baw Baw
Greater Geelong
Mildura
9 (3%)
21.4
Wangaratta
8 (2%)
29.4
21 (6%)
20.6
Colac- Otway
6 (1%)
28.9
Campaspe
7 (2%)
19.0
Mount Alexander
Warrnambool
6 (2%)
18.4
Wellington
Moorabool
5 (2%)
17.4
Bass Coast
5 (2%)
16.5
14 (4%)
14.7
Wellington
Greater Bendigo
Ballarat
5 (1%)
28.0
11 (3%)
26.0
Glenelg
5 (1%)
25.3
Moorabool
7 (2%)
23.9
Swan Hill
5 (1%)
23.8
Baw Baw
10 (2%)
22.5
South Gippsland
6 (1%)
21.6
Moira
6 (1%)
20.9
Bass Coast
6 (1%)
19.6
Surf Coast
5 (1%)
18.3
Mitchell
6 (1%)
16.6
Macedon Ranges
7 (2%)
16.1
Campaspe
60 (18%)
-
5 (1%)
13.5
Ballarat
10 (2%)
10.3
29 (7%)
-
Page 130
Map 31: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 131
Map 32: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 132
Map 33: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 133
Trends over time in antipsychotic-related attendances
Figure 59 shows that trends in numbers and rates of antipsychotic-related attendances fluctuated
across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past two years, with a slight upward
overall trend in metropolitan Melbourne. The pattern over the longer period, as can be seen from
Figure 60, indicates that antipsychotic-related attendance numbers have been increasing over time in
metropolitan Melbourne.
Figure 59: Antipsychotic-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 134
Figure 60: Antipsychotic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 135
Chapter 18 Opioid Analgesic-Related Attendances
Characteristics of opioid analgesic-related attendances
The data displayed in Table 48 shows the characteristics of opioid analgesic-related ambulance
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria for the 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial
years. When compared with 2011/12, the daily number of opioid analgesic-related attendances and
the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in
metropolitan Melbourne (p<= 0.001). In regional Victoria, when compared with 2011/12, the proportion
of attendances where alcohol was also involved decreased significantly (p<0.05), while the proportion
of events co-attended by police, the daily number of attendances and the mean age of attendees
increased significantly (p<0.05).
Table 48: Characteristics of opioid analgesic-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
458
711
(111.4)
(169.8)
1.25
1.95
<0.001
(1.22)
(1.39)
0-7
0–7
148
(32%)
41
(17.68)
40
(<1 - 98)
220
(48%)
107
(23%)
74
(16%)
63
(14%)
389
(85%)
222
(31%)
42
(17.37)
40
(1 - 96)
341
(48%)
142
(20%)
105
(15%)
102
(14%)
617
(92%)
0.676
0.322
0.964
0.165
0.521
0.769
0.001
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
288
350
(201.9)
(242.4)
0.79
0.96
0.012
(0.86)
(0.96)
0-4
0-5
99
(34%)
41
(17.54)
39
(<1 - 96)
146
(51%)
57
(20%)
24
(43%)
15
(5%)
255
(89%)
88
(25%)
44
(17.48)
41
(1 - 99)
179
(51%)
60
(17%)
32
(52%)
40
(11%)
279
(88%)
0.012
0.021
0.905
0.352
0.307
0.005
0.916
Day of week and time of day of opioid analgesic-related
attendances
days of the week in 2012/13 was similar to the previous year, with a higher peak in attendances noted
for Wednesday evening in metropolitan Melbourne and a higher peak in attendances on Sunday
evening in regional Victoria in 2012/13. Attendances were fairly evenly distributed across times of day
and days of the week in 2012/13. The peak day (aggregating all times) in 2012/13 was Wednesday in
metropolitan Melbourne, while the peak day in regional Victoria was Sunday. The peak times
(aggregating all days) in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in 2012/13 were between 6pm
and 12pm.
Page 136
Figure 61: Proportion of opioid analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 62: Proportion of opioid analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 137
Opioid analgesic-related attendances in local government areas
Opioid analgesic-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
Victoria in Table 50. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for opioid
analgesic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Port Phillip and Yarra Ranges
(Table 49). Rates of attendances varied across many LGAs when compared with the previous year.
Melbourne did not retain ranking as the LGA with the highest rate of opioid-related attendances in
metropolitan Melbourne.
In regional Victoria, Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of opioid analgesicrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13 (Table 50). However Horsham, East Gippsland and
Mildura had the highest rates of opioid analgesic-related attendances in regional Victoria.
Mapped opioid analgesic-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 34 and Map
35) and postcode (Map 36) levels.
Page 138
Table 49: Numbers of opioid analgesic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 up to here
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
Melbourne
26 (5.8%)
25.9
Frankston
32 (7.0%)
24.5
31 (6.7%)
20.8
Yarra
16 (3.5%)
20.3
Casey
40 (8.8%)
15.3
Hume
24 (5.3%)
13.8
Moonee Valley
15 (3.3%)
13.4
Melton
15 (3.3%)
13.3
Banyule
15 (3.2%)
12.2
Maroondah
13 (2.8%)
12.1
Stonnington
12 (2.7%)
12.1
9 (1.9%)
12.0
Port Phillip
11 (2.3%)
11.3
Darebin
16 (3.5%)
11.2
Kingston
16 (3.5%)
10.8
Glen Eira
14 (3.0%)
10.2
Knox
15 (3.2%)
9.7
6 (1.4%)
9.6
Greater Dandenong
13 (2.7%)
9.1
Monash
15 (3.2%)
8.5
Moreland
13 (2.8%)
8.4
Whitehorse
13 (2.9%)
8.3
Yarra Ranges
12 (2.7%)
8.1
Wyndham
13 (2.8%)
7.8
Whittlesea
12 (2.7%)
7.5
Brimbank
14 (3.1%)
7.3
Hobsons Bay
6 (1.4%)
6.9
Bayside
6 (1.4%)
6.2
Boroondara
9 (2.0%)
5.4
Rest of Melbourne
5 (1.1%)
-
Maribyrnong
Nillumbik
LGA
Frankston
Port Phillip
Yarra Ranges
Melton
Melbourne
Cardinia
Moonee Valley
Yarra
Kingston
Maribyrnong
Darebin
Hume
Banyule
Casey
Greater Dandenong
Wyndham
Whittlesea
Maroondah
Bayside
Nillumbik
Stonnington
Brimbank
Moreland
Whitehorse
Knox
Glen Eira
Manningham
Monash
Hobsons Bay
Boroondara
Rest of Melbourne
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
46 (6.5%)
27 (3.8%)
38 (5.4%)
28 (4.0%)
25 (3.5%)
19 (2.7%)
25 (3.5%)
33 (4.7%)
17 (2.4%)
31 (4.4%)
15 (2.1%)
28 (4.0%)
33 (4.7%)
22 (3.1%)
47 (6.6%)
25 (3.5%)
28 (4.0%)
26 (3.7%)
16 (2.3%)
14 (2.0%)
9 (1.3%)
4 (2.0%)
26 (3.7%)
21 (3.0%)
21 (3.0%)
17 (2.4%)
15 (2.1%)
12 (1.7%)
15 (2.1%)
6 (0.8%)
9 (1.3%)
0 (0%)
35.0
27.0
25.5
23.7
23.7
23.7
22.1
21.9
21.1
20.7
19.6
19.4
18.5
17.8
17.5
17.3
15.6
15.3
14.8
14.5
14.4
13.9
13.4
13.4
13.2
11.0
10.8
10.3
8.3
6.8
5.3
-
Page 139
Table 50: Numbers of opioid analgesic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
East Gippsland
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
22 (8%)
51.4
Horsham
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
12 (4%)
61.0
Wodonga
18 (6%)
50.0
East Gippsland
20 (6%)
46.3
22 (6%)
42.1
5 (1%)
41.8
LGA
Northern Grampians
LGA
6 (2%)
49.8
Mildura
Latrobe
26 (9%)
35.2
Northern Grampians
Wellington
14 (5%)
33.3
Warrnambool
12 (4%)
36.4
Mildura
17 (6%)
32.8
Baw Baw
16 (5%)
36.1
Horsham
5 (2%)
25.6
Glenelg
7 (2%)
35.4
Glenelg
5 (2%)
25.2
Greater Shepparton
22 (6%)
35.3
Moira
7 (2%)
24.6
Latrobe
25 (7%)
33.8
Warrnambool
8 (3%)
24.5
Wodonga
12 (4%)
32.8
Greater Geelong
43 (15%)
19.9
Campaspe
12 (4%)
32.5
Mitchell
7 (2%)
19.9
Wellington
13 (4%)
30.7
Campaspe
7 (2%)
19.0
Moira
7 (2%)
24.4
Baw Baw
8 (3%)
18.4
Swan Hill
5 (1%)
23.8
Greater Shepparton
10 (4%)
16.2
Greater Bendigo
24 (7%)
23.1
Ballarat
15 (5%)
15.8
Greater Geelong
48 (14%)
22.0
Macedon Ranges
5 (2%)
11.7
Bass Coast
6 (2%)
19.6
Greater Bendigo
11 (4%)
10.8
Wangaratta
5 (1%)
18.4
Surf Coast
5 (1%)
18.3
Ballarat
54 (19%)
-
17 (5%)
17.5
Macedon Ranges
6 (2%)
13.8
Mitchell
5 (1%)
13.8
41 (12%)
-
Page 140
Map 34: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 141
Map 35: Opioid analgesic -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 142
Map 36: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 143
Trends over time in opioid analgesic-related attendances
As shown in Figure 63, there were upward trends in opioid analgesic-related attendance numbers and
rates in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria from July 2011 to June 2013. June 2012 had
the lowest rate during the past two years. Upward trends were evident in opioid analgesic-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne over the period 2003/04 to 2012/13 and in regional Victoria
over the period 2011/12 to 2012/13 (Figure 64).
Figure 63: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 144
Figure 64: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 145
Chapter 19: Other Analgesic-Related Attendances
The analyses presented in this section exclude the involvement of opioid analgesic related-cases as
far as could be ascertained, as these results were presented in the previous section. For examples of
the drugs categorised as “other analgesic”, please refer to the Methods section of the report.
Characteristics of other analgesic-related attendances
As shown in Table 51, in 2012/13 the daily number of other analgesic-related attendances and the
proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased in both metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria when compared with the preceding year (p<0.01). In metropolitan
Melbourne only, there were significant decreases in the proportion of attendances where alcohol was
also involved and in the proportion of events occurring in public spaces (p<0.01).
Table 51: Characteristics of other analgesic-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
p
2011/12
2012/13
1149
1584
(279.57)
(378.49)
3.14
4.34
<0.001
(1.82)
(1.98)
0 - 10
0 - 11
427
(37%)
33
(15.71)
31
(<1 - 93)
327
(28%)
255
(22%)
169
(15%)
128
(11%)
1100
(96%)
514
(32%)
33
(16.30)
29
(<1 - 100)
451
(29%)
296
(19%)
232
(15%)
208
(13%)
1506
(98%)
0.007
0.984
0.984
0.019
0.997
0.106
<0.001
Regional Victoria
p
2011/12
2012/13
451
603
(315.47)
(418.14)
1.23
1.65
<0.001
(1.12)
(1.30)
0-6
0-6
144
(32%)
33
(17.19)
31
(<1 - 95)
139
(31%)
111
(26%)
57
(52%)
40
(9%)
427
(95%)
173
(29%)
33
(16.99)
28
(1 - 94)
180
(30%)
131
(22%)
69
(54%)
76
(13%)
562
(98%)
0.228
0.550
0.730
0.184
0.750
0.053
0.006
Day of week and time of day of other analgesic-related attendances
The distribution of metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victorian attendances across the times of the
day and days of the week in 2012/13 as shown in Figure 65 and Figure 66 was similar to the previous
year. In 2012/13, the peak days (aggregating all times) in metropolitan Melbourne were Monday and
Wednesday, whilst the peak days in regional Victoria were Tuesday and Sunday. In both metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria, the peak time (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 was between 6pm
and midnight.
Page 146
Figure 65: Proportion of other analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 66: Proportion of other analgesic-related attendances by time of day of week, regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 147
Other analgesic-related attendances in local government areas
Other analgesic-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 52 and for regional Victoria
in Table 53. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for other analgesic-related
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Frankston and Moonee Valley (Table 52). Rates of
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of other
analgesic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, Benalla, East Gippsland and Campaspe had the
highest population rates, followed by Mildura and Gannawarra (Table 53). Rates of attendances varied
across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
Mapped other analgesic-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 37 and Map 38 )
Page 148
Table 52: Numbers of other analgesic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan
Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Frankston
67 (5.8%)
51.4
Melbourne
65 (4.1%)
61.7
Yarra
37 (3.2%)
46.9
Frankston
77 (4.9%)
58.5
Melbourne
43 (3.8%)
42.9
Moonee Valley
61 (3.9%)
53.9
Hume
64 (5.5%)
36.7
Moreland
77 (4.9%)
49.3
52 (4.5%)
34.8
73 (4.6%)
48.4
Hobsons Bay
30 (2.6%)
34.3
Hume
83 (5.3%)
46.6
Maroondah
35 (3.0%)
32.6
Yarra Ranges
67 (4.2%)
45.0
Greater Dandenong
45 (3.9%)
31.7
Knox
67 (4.2%)
43.3
Cardinia
24 (2.1%)
31.6
Maroondah
46 (2.9%)
42.6
Bayside
30 (2.6%)
31.2
Greater Dandenong
60 (3.8%)
41.5
Darebin
44 (3.8%)
30.8
Yarra
32 (2.0%)
39.7
Casey
80 (7.0%)
30.6
Maribyrnong
30 (1.9%)
39.2
Melton
34 (3.0%)
30.2
Wyndham
70 (4.4%)
39.0
Port Phillip
29 (2.5%)
29.8
Port Phillip
39 (2.5%)
39.0
Maribyrnong
22 (1.9%)
29.3
Melton
44 (2.8%)
37.3
Knox
44 (3.9%)
28.5
Banyule
46 (2.9%)
37.2
Wyndham
46 (4.0%)
27.6
Nillumbik
23 (1.5%)
36.7
Moreland
42 (3.6%)
27.2
Hobsons Bay
32 (2.0%)
36.3
Yarra Ranges
40 (3.5%)
26.9
Brimbank
67 (4.2%)
34.6
Brimbank
50 (4.3%)
26.1
Whittlesea
57 (3.6%)
33.6
Banyule
31 (2.7%)
25.2
Kingston
50 (3.2%)
33.3
Whittlesea
38 (3.3%)
23.6
Casey
87 (5.5%)
32.5
Moonee Valley
26 (2.3%)
23.2
Cardinia
26 (1.6%)
32.5
Kingston
34 (3.0%)
22.9
Darebin
46 (2.9%)
31.9
Glen Eira
31 (2.7%)
22.6
Monash
55 (3.5%)
30.6
Boroondara
32 (2.8%)
19.2
Whitehorse
46 (2.9%)
28.9
Stonnington
18 (1.6%)
18.2
Stonnington
28 (1.8%)
27.8
Nillumbik
11 (0.9%)
17.5
Bayside
24 (1.5%)
24.8
Whitehorse
27 (2.3%)
17.1
Glen Eira
34 (2.2%)
24.5
Monash
30 (2.6%)
16.9
Manningham
28 (1.8%)
23.9
Manningham
10 (0.9%)
8.6
Boroondara
38 (2.4%)
22.6
-
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
0 (0%)
Page 149
Table 53: Numbers of other analgesic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Horsham
16 (3.6%)
82.0
Benalla
10 (1.7%)
72.8
Latrobe
41 (9.1%)
55.6
East Gippsland
27 (4.5%)
62.6
Greater Shepparton
29 (6.5%)
47.0
Campaspe
23 (3.9%)
62.2
Bass Coast
13 (2.8%)
43.0
Mildura
31 (5.2%)
59.4
Warrnambool
14 (3.1%)
42.9
Gannawarra
6 (1.0%)
57.7
Moira
12 (2.6%)
42.2
Horsham
11 (1.8%)
56.0
Moorabool
12 (2.7%)
41.9
Corangamite
9 (1.5%)
54.9
East Gippsland
17 (3.8%)
39.7
Wellington
23 (3.9%)
54.4
Mildura
19 (4.3%)
36.7
Greater Bendigo
54 (9.1%)
52.1
Wangaratta
10 (2.2%)
36.7
Murrindindi
7 (1.2%)
52.1
Greater Geelong
79 (17.4%)
36.6
Greater Shepparton
32 (5.4%)
51.3
Benalla
5 (1.2%)
36.2
Moira
14 (2.3%)
48.8
Moyne
5 (1.1%)
30.9
Ballarat
47 (7.9%)
48.5
5 (1.2%)
30.3
Latrobe
34 (5.7%)
46.0
Wodonga
10 (2.3%)
27.8
Mitchell
16 (2.7%)
44.1
Greater Bendigo
27 (6.0%)
26.5
Baw Baw
19 (3.2%)
42.8
5 (1.1%)
26.4
Greater Geelong
93 (15.6%)
42.6
Wellington
11 (2.3%)
26.1
Hepburn
6 (1.0%)
40.7
Macedon Ranges
11 (2.5%)
25.7
Glenelg
8 (1.3%)
40.5
Baw Baw
11 (2.5%)
25.4
Wangaratta
11 (1.8%)
40.4
Ballarat
22 (4.8%)
23.1
Mount Alexander
7 (1.2%)
39.2
Mitchell
8 (1.7%)
22.8
Wodonga
14 (2.3%)
38.2
Campaspe
8 (1.7%)
21.7
Warrnambool
12 (2.0%)
36.4
Bass Coast
10 (1.7%)
32.7
Moorabool
9 (1.5%)
30.7
Swan Hill
6 (1.0%)
28.6
Colac- Otway
5 (0.8%)
24.1
Macedon Ranges
9 (1.5%)
20.7
South Gippsland
5 (0.8%)
18.0
38 (6.4%)
-
Corangamite
Golden Plains
61 (13.5%)
-
Page 150
Map 37: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 151
Map 38: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 152
Map 39: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 153
Trends over time in other analgesic-related attendances
As can be seen in Figure 67, there were upward trends in other analgesic-related attendances for
both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past two years. Over the longer period,
upward trends are evident despite the numbers and the rates fluctuating in metropolitan Melbourne
over the last two years (Figure 68).
Figure 67: Other analgesic-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 154
Figure 68: Other analgesic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 155
Chapter 20: Cocaine-Related Attendances
Characteristics of cocaine-related attendances
The data displayed in Table 54 shows the characteristics of cocaine-related ambulance attendances for
2011/12 and 2012/13. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the proportion of cases where the
patient was transported to hospital in metropolitan Melbourne compared with 2011/12. When compared
with 2011/12, the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved remained unchanged in
metropolitan Melbourne. Due to the small number of cocaine-related attendances in regional Victoria,
most characteristics had too few cases to be reported.
Table 54: Characteristics of cocaine-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
population)
Mean per day (SD)
Daily range
Alcohol involved
Age - Mean (SD)
Male
Public space
Outdoor space
2011/12
2012/13
p
88
122
(21.4)
(29.1)
0.24
0.33
0.038
(0.52)
(0.69)
0-3
0-4
56
(64%)
30
(10.01)
29
(<1 - 61)
55
(63%)
34
(40%)
36
(42%)
12
(14%)
66
(76%)
78
(64%)
30
(8.78)
28
(15 - 56)
82
(67%)
53
(45%)
45
(39%)
24
(20%)
89
(87%)
Regional Victoria
2011/12
2012/13
7
10
(4.8)
(6.9)
0.02
0.03
(0.13)
(0.16)
0-1
0-1
0.963
<5
<5
0.689
25
(12.76)
28
(<1 - 38)
34
(9.34)
35
(19 - 45)
*
*
0.429
<5
<5
0.672
<5
<5
0.234
<5
<5
0.036
<5
10
(100%)
0.538
p
0.428
0.086
0.656
*Data not presented due to small numbers.
Day of week and time of day of cocaine-related attendances
As shown in Figure 69 and Figure 70, the distribution of metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria
cocaine-related attendances across the times of the day and days of the week in 2011/12 and 2012/13
were highly variable - which is due to the small numbers of attendances. The peak day (aggregating all
times) in 2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne was Sunday, while the peak days in regional Victoria were
Friday and Sunday. The peak time (aggregating all days) in 2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne was
between midnight and noon, while the peak time in regional Victoria was either between noon and 6pm
or between midnight and 6am.
Page 156
Figure 69: Proportion of cocaine-related attendances by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 70: Proportion of cocaine-related attendances by time of day of week - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 157
Cocaine-related attendances in local government areas
Cocaine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 55. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three
LGAs with the highest rates for cocaine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne,
Yarra and Port Phillip. Melbourne also had the highest proportion of attendances.
Due to the small numbers of cocaine-related attendances, small changes may result in apparently
large differences in proportions presented. In 2012/13 there were no LGAs in regional Victoria where
more than four cocaine-related attendances occurred.
Mapped cocaine-related attendances for 2012/13 are presented at LGA (Map 40 and Map 41) and
Table 55: Numbers of cocaine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
N (%*)
Rate**
LGA
2012/13
N (%*)
Rate**
Melbourne
12 (13.4%)
12.0
Melbourne
17 (14.0%)
16.1
Port Phillip
11 (12.8%)
11.3
Yarra
11 (9.1%)
13.6
11 (9.1%)
11.0
Yarra
6 (6.8%)
7.6
Port Phillip
Darebin
7 (8.0%)
4.9
Stonnington
9 (7.4%)
8.9
4.7
Maribyrnong
6 (5.0%)
7.8
Banyule
7 (5.8%)
5.7
Moreland
6 (5.0%)
3.8
Darebin
5 (4.1%)
3.5
Hume
5 (4.1%)
2.8
5 (4.1%)
2.6
39 (32.4%)
-
Maroondah
5 (5.5%)
Brimbank
Rest of Melbourne
47 (53.5%)
-
Rest of Melbourne
Page 158
Map 40: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 159
Map 41: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Page 160
Map 42: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Page 161
Trends over time in cocaine-related attendances
Figure 71 shows overall upward trends in the numbers and the rates of cocaine-related attendances
across metropolitan Melbourne in the past two years, with some fluctuations. No month had more
than four cases in regional Victoria over the last 24 months. Over the past decade, there has been a
rise in cocaine-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne while there has been a slight increase
in attendances in regional Victoria as shown in Figure 72.
Figure 71: Cocaine-related attendances by month - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Page 162
Figure 72: Cocaine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Page 163
Chapter 21: Summary of findings
Alcohol-related attendances were most common in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria,
with benzodiazepines the second most common drug category involved in ambulance attendances
across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Non-opioid analgesics also featured, with this
category ranking third for regional Victorian alcohol- and drug-related ambulance attendances, and
fourth for metropolitan Melbourne attendances (with all heroin-related attendances ranking third in
metropolitan Melbourne). Attendances related to antidepressants, antipsychotics and cannabis were
also common across Victoria in 2012/13. In 2012/13, population rates of attendances were higher for
cannabis, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioid analgesics and other analgesics in
regional Victoria than in metropolitan Melbourne.
In metropolitan Melbourne, large increases (greater than ten per cent) were noted in alcohol-, cannabis-,
ecstasy-, all amphetamine-, crystal methamphetamine-, benzodiazepine-, GHB-, anticonvulsant-,
antidepressant-, antipsychotic-, opioid analgesic-, non-opioid analgesic- and cocaine-related
attendances. There was a smaller increase in other heroin-related attendances. A large decrease
(greater than ten per cent) was noted in attendances for heroin (with response to naloxone). With the
exception of inhalant- and GHB-related attendances, the change patterns in regional Victoria were
broadly the same as in metropolitan Melbourne.
Daily numbers of alcohol-related attendances were significantly higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12 in
both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The mean age of patients attended increased in
2012/13 in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. In metropolitan Melbourne and regional
Victoria, the proportion of cases occurring in public spaces decreased when compared with 2011/12. In
both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportion of alcohol-related attendances where
the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in 2012/13 when compared with the
previous year. Melbourne retained its ranking as the LGA with the highest proportion of alcohol-related
attendances in metropolitan Melbourne. In regional Victoria, Greater Geelong was the LGA with the
highest proportion of alcohol-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, followed by Latrobe and
Ballarat, while Yarriambiack and Warnambool had the highest rates of attendances.
In metropolitan Melbourne, there was a large decrease (ten percentage points or greater) in the
proportion of ecstasy-related attendances where alcohol was also involved when compared with the
preceding year. For all other drug categories, there were smaller decreases or increases in the
proportions of attendances where alcohol was also involved. In regional Victoria, large decreases were
seen in the proportions of cannabis-, ecstasy-, antidepressant- and cocaine-related attendances where
alcohol was also involved when compared with the preceding year, while a large increase was noted in
the proportion of inhalant-related attendances where alcohol was also involved. For all other drug
categories, there were smaller decreases or increases in the proportions of attendances where alcohol
was also involved.
Across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily number of cannabis-related attendances
in 2012/13 increased significantly when compared with the preceding year. In both metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportions of cannabis-related attendances where alcohol was
involved decreased while the proportion where the patient was transported to hospital increased in
2012/13 when compared with the previous year. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the
Page 164
highest rates for cannabis-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Frankston and
Port Phillip. In regional Victoria, Latrobe and Greater Shepparton had the highest population rates in
2012/13.
In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, there were significant increases in the daily
numbers of ecstasy-related attendances in 2012/13 when compared with 2011/12. The age of patients
attended decreased in metropolitan Melbourne while the age increased in regional Victoria in 2012/13
compared with 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the proportion of attendances where alcohol was
also involved decreased while the proportion of attendances where the patient was transported to
hospital increased. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for ecstasy-related
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Stonnington and Port Phillip. In regional Victoria,
Greater Bendigo and Greater Geelong had the highest population rates in 2012/13.
In both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily number of all amphetamine-related
attendances and the proportion of events co-attended by police in 2012/13 increased significantly when
compared with the preceding year. In metropolitan Melbourne, there was a significant decrease in the
proportion of cases where alcohol was also involved, while there was a significant increase in the
proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital in 2012/13 when compared with
2011/12. In regional Victoria, the proportion of events occurring in public spaces increased significantly.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for all amphetamine-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra. In regional Victoria, Latrobe, Moorabool
and Greater Shepparton had the highest population rates of all amphetamine-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13.
In 2012/13 across Victoria, the daily number of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances was
significantly higher than in 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, significant decreases were seen in the
proportion of cases where alcohol was involved, and where events occurred in public spaces, while
significant increases were noted in the proportion of events co-attended by police, and cases where the
patient was transported to hospital. In regional Victoria, there was a significant increase in the proportion
of events co-attended by police. In metropolitan Melbourne, the top three ranking LGAs in the proportion
of crystal methamphetamine-related ambulance attendances were Melbourne, Casey and Hume. In
regional Victoria, Latrobe, Moorabool and Horsham had the highest population rates of crystal
methamphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the proportion of other amphetamine-related cases where the patient was
transported to hospital was significantly higher than in 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three
LGAs with the highest rates for other amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were
Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra. In regional Victoria, Greater Shepparton and Latrobe had the highest
population rates of other amphetamine-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the daily numbers of benzodiazepine-related
attendances were higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12. Significant decreases were seen in the proportions
of events occurring in public spaces, while significant increases were evident in the proportions of events
co-attended by police and in cases where the patient was transported to hospital. The mean age of
patients increased significantly while the proportion of male patients decreased significantly in
metropolitan Melbourne. The proportion of cases involving alcohol decreased significantly in regional
Victoria In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for benzodiazepine-related
Page 165
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Frankston and Melbourne. In regional Victoria, East
Gippsland, Benalla and Bass Coast had the highest population rates of benzodiazepine-related
The daily number of regional Victorian inhalant-related attendances in 2012/13 was significantly higher
than in 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for inhalant-related
ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Maroondah, Melbourne and Greater Dandenong. In regional
Victoria, Mildura, Ballarat and Greater Bendigo were the LGAs with the highest rates of inhalant-related
In metropolitan Melbourne, the mean age of patients and the proportion of cases where the patient was
transported to hospital for all heroin-related attendances increased significantly in 2012/13 compared
with the previous year In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for all heroinrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong. In regional Victoria,
Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest population rate of heroin-related ambulance attendances
in 2012/13, followed by Ballarat.
The daily number of heroin overdose attendances in 2012/13 was significantly lower than in 2011/12.
There was a significant increase in the mean age of patients in 2012/13 when compared with 2011/12.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates of heroin overdose ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong. In regional Victoria, Greater Geelong
was the LGA with the highest rate of heroin overdose ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
Across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the proportions of other heroin-related cases
where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly. In metropolitan Melbourne, the
three LGAs with the highest rates of other heroin-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra,
Melbourne and Maribyrnong. In regional Victoria, Wodonga and Baw Baw had the highest population
rates of other heroin-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
The daily number of GHB-related attendances in metropolitan Melbourne increased significantly when
compared with the preceding year. Significant increases were seen in the proportions of events
occurring in public and outdoor spaces, co-attended by police, and cases where the patient was
transported to hospital. In regional Victoria, the mean age of patients attended decreased significantly.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates of GHB-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Port Phillip and Stonnington. In regional Victoria, Moorabool,
Wellington and Latrobe had the highest population rates of GHB-related ambulance attendances in
2012/13.
In regional Victoria, the proportion of anticonvulsant-related cases where the patient was transported to
hospital increased significantly when compared with the preceding year. In metropolitan Melbourne, the
three LGAs with the highest rates of anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were
Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and Frankston. In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was
the LGA with the highest proportion of anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13, while
South Gippsland, Mitchell and Bass Coast had the highest population rates.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the daily number of antidepressant-related attendances was significantly
higher in 2012/13 than in 2011/12, while the mean age was lower in 2012/13 than in 2011/12. In regional
Victoria, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of cases involving alcohol, while there was a
Page 166
significant increase in the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates of antidepressant-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Melbourne and Cardinia. In regional Victoria, Benalla, East
Gippsland and Horsham had the highest population rates of antidepressant-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13.
The daily numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances increased significantly in both metropolitan
Melbourne and regional Victoria when compared with 2011/12. In regional Victoria, there was a
significant decrease in the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved in 2012/13 when
compared with 2011/12. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates of
antipsychotic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Port Phillip and Melbourne. In
regional Victoria, East Gippsland, Northern Grampians and Greater Bendigo had the highest population
rates of antipsychotic-related ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
When compared with 2011/12, the daily number of opioid analgesic-related attendances and the
proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital increased significantly in metropolitan
Melbourne. In regional Victoria, when compared with 2011/12, the proportion of attendances where
alcohol was also involved decreased significantly, while the proportion of events co-attended by police,
the daily number of the attendances, and the mean age of patients increased significantly. In
metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for opioid analgesic-related ambulance
attendances in 2012/13 were Frankston, Port Phillip and Yarra Ranges. Horsham, East Gippsland and
Mildura had the highest rates of opioid analgesic-related attendances in regional Victoria.
In 2012/13 the daily numbers of other analgesic-related attendances and the proportion of cases where
the patient was transported to hospital increased in both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria
when compared with the preceding year. In metropolitan Melbourne, there were significant decreases in
the proportion of attendances where alcohol was also involved and in the proportion of events occurring
in public spaces. In metropolitan Melbourne, the three LGAs with the highest rates for other analgesicrelated ambulance attendances in 2012/13 were Melbourne, Frankston and Moonee Valley. In regional
Victoria, Benalla, East Gippsland and Campaspe had the highest population rates.
There was a significant increase in the proportion of cases where the patient was transported to hospital
in metropolitan Melbourne compared with 2011/12. When compared with 2011/12, the proportion of
attendances where alcohol was also involved remained unchanged in metropolitan Melbourne. Due to
the small number of cocaine-related attendances in regional Victoria, most characteristics had too few
cases to be reported.
Page 167
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(IDRS). (NDARC Technical Report No. 274). Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre,
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Page 168
Appendix
Whittlesea (C)
Hume (C)
Nillumbik (S)
Melton (S)
Brimbank (C)
Yarra Ranges (S)
Maroondah (C)
Wyndham (C)
Knox (C)
Kingston (C)
Greater Dandenong (C)
Casey (C)
Cardinia (S)
Frankston (C)
Mornington Peninsula (S)
Map 43: LGAs of outer metropolitan Melbourne
Page 169
Hume (C)
Nillumbik (S)
Moreland (C)
Banyule (C)
Darebin (C)
Moonee Valley (C)
Manningham (C)
Yarra (C)
Maribyrnong (C)
Melbourne (C)
Boroondara (C)
Whitehorse (C)
Port Phillip (C)
Hobsons Bay (C)
Stonnington (C)
Monash (C)
ndham (C)
Glen Eira (C)
Bayside (C)
Map 44: LGAs of inner metropolitan Melbourne
Casey (C)
Page 170
Map 45: LGAs of regional Victoria
Page 171

Trends in alcohol and drug related ambulance

Transcription

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