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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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page v
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 vi
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page vii
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page viii
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page ix
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
metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................................................................. 90 Table 32: Numbers of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by local government area in
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page x
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page xi
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,
metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................................................................. 51 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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page xii
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,
metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13 .................................................................................. 89 Figure 38: 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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page xiii
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page xiv
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances - 2012/13 Annual Report Page xv
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 xvi
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 1
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
Metropolitan Melbourne N (rate)**
Regional Victoria
N (rate)**
All Victoria
N* (rate)**
Alcohol 11159 (2665.9) 3692 (2559.9) 14902 (2650.0)
Cannabis 1416 (338.2) 554 (384.2) 1975 (351.2)
Ecstasy 306 (73.1) 54 (37.4) 360 (64.0)
All Amphetamines 1394 (333.1) 312 (216.6) 1708 (303.7)
Crystal Methamphetamine 1112 (265.7) 231 (159.8) 1344 (239.0)
Other Amphetamines 282 (67.4) 82 (56.8) 364 (64.7)
Benzodiazepines 3159 (754.6) 808 (560.0) 3979 (707.6)
Inhalants 122 (29.1) 31 (21.5) 153 (27.2)
All Heroin 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)
GHB 578 (138.1) 42 (29.0) 620 (110.3)
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)
Cocaine 122 (29.1) 10 (6.9) 132 (23.5)
*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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 2
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 Regional Victoria
2011/12 N
2012/13 N
% Change from 2011/12
2011/12 N
2012/13 N
% Change from 2011/12
Alcohol 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%
Crystal Methamphetamine 592 1112 +88% 77 231 +198%
Other Amphetamines 288 282 -2% 88 82 -7%
Benzodiazepines 2694 3159 +17% 727 808 +11%
Inhalants 135 122 -10% 14 31 +121%
All Heroin 1964 1901 -3% 106 102 -4%
Heroin (with response to naloxone)
1104 960 -13% 44 38 -15%
Other Heroin 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%
Antipsychotics 964 1145 +19% 337 425 +26%
Opioid Analgesics 458 711 +55% 288 350 +21%
Other Analgesics 1149 1584 +38% 451 603 +34%
Cocaine 88 122 +39% 7 10 +47%
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 3
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 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.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 4
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
ambulance attendances in 2012/13.
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,
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 5
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 6
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 7
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 8
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 9
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 10
”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 heroin-
related 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,
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 11
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 sub-
populations of interest. The production of maps of patterns and clusters of alcohol- and other drug-
related 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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 12
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 alcohol-
related 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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 P 2011/12 2012/13 P
N attendances (per 1m population)
8824 (2147.6)
11159 (2665.9)
2594
(1816.0) 3692
(2559.9)
Mean per day (SD) 24.11
(11.10) 30.57
(13.43) <0.001
7.09
(4.23) 10.12 (5.42)
<0.001
Daily range 5 - 82 6 - 109 0 - 28 2 - 48
Alcohol involved 8824
(100%) 11159
(100%) <0.001
2594
(100%) 3692
(100%)
<0.001
Age - Mean (SD) 38
(17.89) 40
(17.27)
38 (18.48)
41 (17.58)
Age - Median (range) 37
(<1 - 95) 40
(<1 - 95) <0.001
38
(<1 - 91) 41
(<1 - 94) <0.001
Male 5728
(65%) 7330
(66%) 0.246
1624
(63%) 2312
(63%) 0.981
Public space 4512
(52%) 5421
(49%) <0.001
1060
(42%) 1371
(38%) 0.002
Outdoor space 4271
(50%) 5334
(49%) 0.471
856
(83%) 1100
(82%) 0.668
Police co-attendance 1728
(20%) 2361
(21%) 0.005
356
(14%) 603
(16%) 0.004
Transported to hospital
6102 (70%)
7726 (86%)
<0.001
1868
(73%) 2544
(87%)
<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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 13
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 14
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 alcohol-
related 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 alcohol-
related 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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 15
Table 4: Numbers of alcohol-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 1165 (13%) 1162.2 Melbourne 1418 (13%) 1345.6
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
Mornington Peninsula 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
Nillumbik 56 (1%) 89.3 Nillumbik 67 (1%) 106.9
Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) - Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) -
* % of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 16
Table 5: Numbers of alcohol-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Warrnambool 87 (3%) 266.3 Yarriambiack 27 (1%) 379.5
Central Goldfields 33 (1%) 262.3 Warrnambool 125 (3%) 379.2
Latrobe 190 (7%) 257.5 Latrobe 280 (8%) 378.7
Mildura 129 (5%) 248.9 Greater Shepparton 229 (6%) 367.3
Greater Shepparton 153 (6%) 247.8 Wellington 146 (4%) 345.2
East Gippsland 105 (4%) 245.2 East Gippsland 148 (4%) 343.0
Murrindindi 32 (1%) 240.0 Mildura 169 (5%) 323.7
Greater Geelong 497 (19%) 230.3 Bass Coast 97 (3%) 317.1
Wellington 93 (4%) 221.1 Central Goldfields 38 (1%) 302.0
Mansfield 17 (1%) 214.1 Wangaratta 80 (2%) 293.7
Bass Coast 61 (2%) 201.8 Greater Geelong 640 (18%) 293.1
Southern Grampians 31 (1%) 187.1 Colac-Otway 56 (2%) 270.1
Ballarat 178 (7%) 187.0 Ballarat 242 (7%) 249.6
Buloke 12 (1%) 185.6 Horsham 49 (1%) 249.3
Wodonga 65 (3%) 180.4 Strathbogie 24 (1%) 248.4
Moira 51 (2%) 179.5 Glenelg 48 (1%) 242.7
Glenelg 35 (1%) 176.3 Mount Alexander 43 (1%) 240.7
Mitchell 61 (2%) 173.8 Wodonga 88 (2%) 240.3
Surf Coast 46 (2%) 172.5 Ararat 27 (1%) 237.8
Campaspe 63 (2%) 170.9 Campaspe 87 (2%) 235.4
Wangaratta 46 (2%) 169.0 Swan Hill 49 (1%) 233.6
Benalla 23 (1%) 166.4 Mansfield 18 (0.5%) 223.1
Strathbogie 15 (1%) 156.3 Greater Bendigo 228 (6%) 219.8
Swan Hill 32 (1%) 153.4 Surf Coast 57 (2%) 208.4
Greater Bendigo 148 (6%) 145.1 Pyrenees 14 (0.4%) 207.2
Colac-Otway 30 (1%) 144.2 Benalla 28 (1%) 203.9
Hepburn 21 (1%) 143.6 Corangamite 33 (1%) 201.4
Baw Baw 60 (2%) 138.3 Moira 57 (2%) 198.8
Gannawarra 14 (1%) 133.9 Mitchell 71 (2%) 195.9
Horsham 26 (1%) 133.2 Southern Grampians 32 (1%) 195.1
Corangamite 21 (1%) 127.1 Baw Baw 82 (2%) 184.8
Moyne 20 (1%) 123.7 Moorabool 54 (2%) 184.0
Northern Grampians 14 (1%) 116.1 Macedon Ranges 75 (2%) 172.4
Mount Alexander 20 (1%) 111.9 Alpine 19 (1%) 156.5
Yarriambiack 8 (0.3%) 111.4 Hindmarsh 9 (0.2%) 155.3
Ararat 12 (1%) 106.0 South Gippsland 40 (1%) 143.8
South Gippsland 29 (1%) 105.4 Murrindindi 19 (0.5%) 141.4
Pyrenees 7 (0.3%) 103.6 Buloke 9 (0.2%) 141.4
Alpine 11 (0.4%) 91.2 Northern Grampians 16 (0.4%) 133.7
Moorabool 26 (1%) 90.7 Loddon 10 (0.3%) 132.9
Macedon Ranges 38 (2%) 88.6 Moyne 21 (1%) 129.5
Hindmarsh 5 (0.2%) 85.4 Hepburn 18 (0.5%) 122.0
Loddon 5 (0.2%) 66.3 Gannawarra 12 (0.3%) 115.5
Golden Plains 10 (0.4%) 52.7 Indigo 14 (0.4%) 91.0
Indigo 8 (0.3%) 52.2 Golden Plains 16 (0.4%) 82.4
Rest of Regional Victoria 8 (0.4%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 8 (0.3%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 17
Map 1: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 18
Map 2: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 19
Map 3: Alcohol-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 20
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 21
Figure 4: Alcohol-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 22
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 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; both
changes were statistically significant (p<0.001).
Table 6: Characteristics of cannabis-related attendances - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 P
N attendances (per 1m population)
936 (227.8)
1416 (338.2)
350
(244.9) 554
(384.2)
Mean per day (SD) 2.56
(1.80) 3.88
(2.20)
<0.001
0.96
(1.01) 1.52
(1.30)
<0.001
Daily range 0 - 10 0 - 11 0 - 4 0 - 7
Alcohol involved 538
(57%) 699
(49%)
<0.001
219 (63%)
286 (52%)
0.001
Age - Mean (SD) 29
(11.77) 30
(11.84)
0.089
30 (11.75)
30 (12.29)
0.506
Age - Median (range) 27
(<1 - 69) 27
(<1 - 79)
28 (<1 - 66)
27 (13 - 63)
Male 604
(64%) 962
(68%)
0.066
234 (67%)
358 (65%)
0.494
Public space 318
(34%) 447
(32%)
0.195
90 (26%)
118 (22%)
0.130
Outdoor space 313
(34%) 458
(33%)
0.596
68 (71%)
81 (69%)
0.675
Police co-attendance 171
(18%) 287
(20%)
0.222
59 (17%)
89 (16%)
0.782
Transported to hospital 715
(76%) 996
(86%)
<0.001
278 (80%)
419 (91%)
<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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 23
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 24
Cannabis-related attendances in local government areas
Cannabis-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 7 and for regional Victoria in Table 8. In
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 cannabis-
related 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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 25
Table 7: Numbers of cannabis-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 68 (7%) 67.8 Melbourne 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 Mornington Peninsula 56 (4%) 37.1
Mornington Peninsula 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
Rest of Melbourne 14 (11%) - Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 26
Table 8: Numbers of cannabis-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Mildura 26 (8%) 50.2 Latrobe 62 (11%) 83.9
Horsham 9 (3%) 46.1 Greater Shepparton 42 (8%) 67.4
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
Campaspe 9 (3%) 24.4 Bass Coast 14 (3%) 45.8
Ballarat 22 (6%) 23.1 Greater Geelong 95 (17%) 43.5
Mitchell 8 (2%) 22.8 Southern Grampians 7 (1%) 42.7
Wodonga 8 (2%) 22.2 Ballarat 36 (7%) 37.1
Moira 6 (2%) 21.1 Macedon Ranges 16 (3%) 36.8
Baw Baw 7 (2%) 16.1 Mitchell 13 (2%) 35.9
Wellington 6 (2%) 14.3 South Gippsland 10 (2%) 35.9
Greater Bendigo 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
Surf Coast 6 (1%) 21.9
Greater Bendigo 21 (4%) 20.2
Rest of Regional Victoria 55 (17%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 45 (8%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 27
Map 4: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 28
Map 5: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 29
Map 6: Cannabis-related attendances by Victorian postcodes, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 30
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 31
Figure 8: Cannabis-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 32
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
191 (46.4)
306 (73.1)
33
(23.4) 54
(37.4)
Mean per day (SD) 0.52
(1.03) 0.84
(1.27)
<0.001
0.09
(0.30) 0.15
(0.42) 0.035
Daily range 0 - 12 0 - 8 0 - 2 0 - 3
Alcohol involved 128
(67%) 168
(55%) 0.006
22
(67%) 27
(50%) 0.115
Age - Mean (SD) 24
(8.22) 23
(6.54) 0.034
22
(7.46) 25
(7.12) 0.031
Age - Median (range) 23
(<1 - 60) 21
(15 - 55)
22 (<1 - 44)
23 (18 -49)
Male 124
(65%) 199
(65%) 0.971
17
(52%) 35
(65%) 0.229
Public space 94
(51%) 158
(53%) 0.559
14
(45%) 28
(56%) 0.332
Outdoor space 96
(52%) 161
(56%) 0.487
12
(86%) 22
(79%) 0.537
Police co-attendance 24
(13%) 50
(16%) 0.242
<5
5
(9%)
Transported to hospital 147
(79%) 238
(87%) 0.030
29
(88%) 41
(93%) 0.403
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
Day of week and time of day of ecstasy-related attendances
The distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the week in metropolitan
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 33
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 34
Ecstasy-related attendances in local government areas
Ecstasy-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 10 and for regional Victoria in Table 11. In
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
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 45 (24%) 44.9 Melbourne 90 (30%) 85.4
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
Boroondara 9 (5%) 5.4 Darebin 10 (3%) 6.9
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
Mornington Peninsula 6 (2%) 4.0
Monash 7 (2%) 3.9
Kingston 5 (2%) 3.3
Knox 5 (2%) 3.2
Whitehorse 5 (2%) 3.1
Casey 8 (3%) 3.0
Rest of Melbourne 39 (21%) - Rest of Melbourne 27 (9%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne. ** per 100,000 population
Table 11: Numbers of ecstasy-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Greater Geelong 10 (30%) 4.6 Greater Bendigo 7 (13%) 6.7
Greater Geelong 9 (17%) 4.1
Rest of Regional Victoria 23 (70%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 38 (71%) -
*% of regional Victoria. ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 35
Map 7: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 36
Map 8: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 37
Map 9: Ecstasy -related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 38
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 39
Figure 12: Ecstasy-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 40
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
880 (214.1)
1394 (333.1)
166 (115.9)
312 (216.6)
Mean per day (SD) 2.40
(1.95) 3.82
(2.30)
<0.001 0.45 (0.68)
0.86 (1.07)
<0.001
Daily range 0 - 12 0 - 14 0 - 3 0 - 6
Alcohol involved 292
(33%) 375
(27%) 0.001
66
(40%) 98
(31%) 0.046
Age - Mean (SD) 28
(9.41) 28
(8.59) 0.202
27
(9.55) 28
(8.59) 0.335
Age - Median (range) 26
(<1 - 64) 27
(12 - 70)
26 (<1 - 68)
26 (13 - 60)
Male 570
(65%) 914
(66%) 0.710
106
(64%) 201
(64%) 0.897
Public space 380
(44%) 563
(41%) 0.145
44
(27%) 111
(37%) 0.030
Outdoor space 347
(41%) 534
(39%) 0.528
26
(59%) 76
(64%) 0.545
Police co-attendance 179
(20%) 366
(26%) 0.001
16
(10%) 64
(21%) 0.002
Transported to hospital 669
(76%) 1085 (87%)
<0.001
139
(84%) 243
(89%) 0.113
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 41
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 42
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).
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 43
Table 13: Numbers of all amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 98 (11%) 97.8 Melbourne 164 (12%) 155.6
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
Banyule 27 (3%) 22.0 Melton 40 (3%) 33.9
Hume 35 (4%) 20.1 Casey 86 (6%) 32.1
Yarra Ranges 28 (3%) 18.8 Hobsons Bay 28 (2%) 31.8
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 Mornington Peninsula 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
Mornington Peninsula 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%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 44
Table 14: Numbers of all amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
East Gippsland 10 (6%) 23.4 Latrobe 35 (11%) 47.3
Bass Coast 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
Greater Bendigo 10 (6%) 9.8 Moira 6 (2%) 20.9
Ballarat 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
Rest of Regional Victoria 39 (24%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 45 (14%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 45
Map 10: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 46
Map 11: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 47
Map 12: Amphetamine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 48
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 49
Figure 16: All amphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 50
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
592 (144.1)
1112 (265.7)
77 (54.2)
231 (159.8)
Mean per day (SD) 1.62
(1.45) 3.05
(1.92)
<0.001 0.21 (0.44)
0.63 (0.84)
<0.001
Daily range 0 - 7 0 - 10 0 - 2 0 - 4
Alcohol involved 158
(27%) 243
(22%)
0.022 25 (32%)
63 (27%)
0.377
Age - Mean (SD) 28
(8.80) 28
(8.41)
0.136 26 (9.06)
28 (8.83)
0.136
Age - Median (range) 26
(<1 - 53) 27
(12 - 70)
25 (<1 - 68)
26 (13 - 60)
Male 386
(65%) 724
(65%)
0.975 46 (59%)
150 (65%)
0.313
Public space 256
(44%) 424
(39%)
0.028 18 (23%)
78 (34%)
0.062
Outdoor space 226
(40%) 405
(38%)
0.407 10 (56%)
54 (63%)
0.559
Police co-attendance 124
(21%) 306
(27%)
0.002 5 (6%)
51 (22%)
0.002
Transported to hospital 458
(78%) 858
(87%)
<0.001 65 (84%)
182 (90%)
0.136
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 51
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 52
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 53
Table 16: Numbers of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 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 Mornington Peninsula 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
Mornington Peninsula 11 (2%) 7.4 Nillumbik 11 (1%) 17.6
Whitehorse 11 (2%) 7.0 Wyndham 28 (3%) 15.6
Manningham 8 (1%) 6.9 Glen Eira 20 (2%) 14.4
Monash 10 (2%) 5.6 Monash 23 (2%) 12.8
Boroondara 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
Rest of Melbourne 15 (3%) - Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 54
Table 17: Numbers of crystal methamphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Latrobe 10 (13%) 13.6 Latrobe 30 (13%) 40.6
Ballarat 8 (10%) 8.4 Moorabool 9 (4%) 30.7
Greater Geelong 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
Greater Shepparton 14 (6%) 22.5
Campaspe 8 (4%) 21.6
Bass Coast 6 (3%) 19.6
Warrnambool 6 (3%) 18.2
Moira 5 (2%) 17.4
Ballarat 15 (7%) 15.5
Mildura 8 (4%) 15.3
East Gippsland 5 (2%) 11.6
Rest of Regional Victoria 30 (39%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 44 (19%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 55
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 56
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
288 (70.0)
282 (67.4)
88 (61.7)
82 (56.8)
Mean per day (SD) 0.79
(1.04) 0.77 (1.03)
0.865 0.24 (0.49)
0.22 (0.52)
0.658
Daily range 0 - 6 0 - 6 0 - 2 0 - 3
Alcohol involved 135
(47%) 132
(47%)
0.992 41 (47%)
35 (43%)
0.552
Age - Mean (SD) 28
(10.56) 29
(9.30)
0.694 28 (9.92)
29 (7.89)
0.823
Age - Median (range) 26
(<1 - 64) 26
(13 - 58) 27
(<1 - 64) 27
(17 - 50)
Male 184
(64%) 190
(67%)
0.398 60 (68%)
51 (62%)
0.408
Public space 124
(44%) 139
(50%)
0.149 26 (30%)
33 (43%)
0.082
Outdoor space 121
(43%) 129
(47%) 0.380 16
(60%) 22
(65%)
0.731
Police co-attendance 55
(19%) 60
(21%)
0.512 11 (12%)
13 (16%)
0.522
Transported to hospital 212
(74%) 227
(89%)
<0.001 74 (84%)
62 (86%)
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
The distribution of attendances across the times of the day and days of the week in metropolitan
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 57
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 58
Other amphetamine-related attendances in local government areas
Other amphetamine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 19 and for regional
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 amphetamine-
related 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 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 35 (12%) 34.9 Melbourne 60 (21%) 56.9
Yarra 20 (7%) 25.3 Port Phillip 15 (5%) 15.0
Port Phillip 20 (7%) 20.6 Yarra 9 (3%) 11.2
Frankston 20 (7%) 15.3 Hobsons Bay 9 (3%) 10.2
Maribyrnong 8 (3%) 10.6 Frankston 13 (5%) 9.9
Darebin 13 (5%) 9.1 Yarra Ranges 11 (4%) 7.4
Greater Dandenong 13 (4%) 9.1 Banyule 9 (3%) 7.3
Banyule 11 (4%) 8.9 Brimbank 14 (5%) 7.2
Maroondah 9 (3%) 8.4 Glen Eira 10 (4%) 7.2
Yarra Ranges 12 (4%) 8.1 Stonnington 7 (3%) 7.0
Hobsons Bay 7 (3%) 8.0 Maroondah 7 (3%) 6.5
Whitehorse 12 (4%) 7.6 Knox 10 (4%) 6.5
Mornington Peninsula 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
Casey 14 (5%) 5.4 Greater Dandenong 8 (3%) 5.5
Wyndham 8 (3%) 4.8 Casey 14 (5%) 5.2
Kingston 7 (2%) 4.7 Boroondara 8 (3%) 4.8
Moreland 7 (3%) 4.5 Mornington Peninsula 7 (3%) 4.6
Brimbank 7 (3%) 3.7 Moreland 7 (3%) 4.5
Boroondara 6 (2%) 3.6 Wyndham 6 (2%) 3.3
Hume 6 (2%) 3.4 Monash 6 (2%) 3.3
Knox 5 (2%) 3.2 Whittlesea 5 (2%) 3.0
Rest of Melbourne 14 (5%) - Rest of Melbourne 16 (6%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 59
Table 20: Numbers of other amphetamine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
East Gippsland 8 (9%) 18.7 Greater Shepparton 7 (9%) 11.2
Wellington 6 (7%) 14.3 Latrobe 5 (6%) 6.8
Mildura 6 (7%) 11.6 Greater Geelong 14 (17%) 6.4
Latrobe 7 (8%) 9.5 Ballarat 5 (6%) 5.2
Greater Geelong 16 (18%) 7.4 Greater Bendigo 5 (6%) 4.8
Ballarat 7 (7%) 7.4
Rest of Regional Victoria 39 (44%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 45 (55%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 60
Figure 24: Other amphetamine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 61
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 co-
attended 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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
2694 (655.6)
3159 (754.6)
727
(508.9) 808
(560.0)
Mean per day (SD) 7.36
(2.88) 8.65
(3.10)
<0.001
1.99 (1.54)
2.21 (1.43)
0.039
Daily range 1 – 15 2 - 20 0 - 7 0 - 7
Alcohol involved 1193 (44%)
1338 (42%)
0.123
351 (48%)
333 (41%)
0.004
Age - Mean (SD) 37
(14.55) 38
(14.31)
0.004
39 (15.91)
40 (15.46)
0.119
Age - Median (range) 37
(<1 - 95) 37
(<1 - 100)
40 (<1 - 95)
40 (1 - 92)
Male 1226 (46%)
1295 (41%)
<0.001
280 (39%)
323 (40%)
0.548
Public space 733
(28%) 767
(25%)
0.008
156 (22%)
136 (17%)
0.016
Outdoor space 606
(23%) 677
(22%)
0.311
86 (53%)
88 (60%)
0.158
Police co-attendance 464
(17%) 653
(21%)
0.001
96 (13%)
136 (17%)
0.046
Transported to hospital 2389 (89%)
2793 (93%)
<0.001
664 (92%)
735 (97%)
<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 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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 62
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 63
Benzodiazepine-related attendances in local government areas
Benzodiazepine-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 22 and for regional
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 64
Table 22: Numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Maribyrnong 80 (3%) 106.4 Maroondah 110 (4%) 101.8
Greater Dandenong 117 (4%) 82.3 Maribyrnong 77 (2%) 100.5
Maroondah 86 (3%) 80.1 Mornington Peninsula 145 (5%) 96.2
Mornington Peninsula 116 (4%) 77.7 Stonnington 87 (3%) 86.4
Darebin 103 (4%) 72.1 Darebin 121 (4%) 84.0
Stonnington 71 (3%) 71.8 Whitehorse 128 (4%) 80.5
Moreland 101 (4%) 65.5 Greater Dandenong 112 (4%) 77.4
Hume 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
Moonee Valley 66 (3%) 58.8 Banyule 86 (3%) 69.6
Brimbank 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
Casey 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
Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) - Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 65
Table 23: Numbers of benzodiazepine-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Mansfield 12 (2%) 151.1 East Gippsland 43 (5%) 99.6
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
Central Goldfields 9 (1%) 71.5 Moira 19 (2%) 66.3
Greater Shepparton 44 (6%) 71.3 Horsham 13 (2%) 66.1
Benalla 9 (1%) 65.1 Mildura 34 (4%) 65.1
Ararat 7 (1%) 61.8 Campaspe 24 (3%) 64.9
Baw Baw 26 (4%) 59.9 Mitchell 23 (3%) 63.5
Ballarat 56 (8%) 58.8 Greater Geelong 137 (17%) 62.7
Wangaratta 16 (2%) 58.8 Strathbogie 6 (1%) 62.1
Moira 16 (2%) 56.3 Corangamite 10 (1%) 61.0
Mildura 29 (4%) 56.0 Moorabool 17 (2%) 57.9
Bass Coast 16 (2%) 52.9 Ballarat 56 (7%) 57.7
Wodonga 19 (3%) 52.7 Swan Hill 12 (2%) 57.2
Greater Geelong 108 (15%) 50.0 Central Goldfields 7 (1%) 55.6
Wellington 20 (3%) 47.5 Baw Baw 24 (3%) 54.1
Mount Alexander 8 (1%) 44.8 Greater Bendigo 55 (7%) 53.0
Corangamite 7 (1%) 42.4 Wellington 21 (3%) 49.7
Macedon Ranges 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
Hepburn 5 (1%) 34.2 Glenelg 9 (1%) 45.5
Swan Hill 7 (1%) 33.5 Northern Grampians 5 (1%) 41.8
Warrnambool 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
South Gippsland 5 (1%) 18.2 Surf Coast 7 (1%) 25.6
Colac- Otway 5 (1%) 24.1
South Gippsland 6 (1%) 21.6
Rest of Regional Victoria 37 (6%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 29 (4%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 66
Map 13: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 67
Map 14: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victoria LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 68
Map 15: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 69
Trends over time in benzodiazepine-related attendances
The data displayed in Figure 27 indicates a slight upward trend in month-to-month benzodiazepine-
related 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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 70
Figure 28: Benzodiazepine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 71
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
135 (32.9)
122 (29.1)
14
(9.8) 31
(21.5)
Mean per day (SD) 0.37
(0.66) 0.33 (0.58)
0.451
0.04 (0.22)
0.08 (0.36)
0.033
Daily range 0 - 4 0 - 3 0 - 2 0 - 4
Alcohol involved 43
(32%) 29
(24%) 0.140
<5
6
(19%)
Age - Mean (SD) 24
(11.64) 23
(11.22) 0.488
37
(19.05) 28
(17.86) 0.071
Age - Median (range) 23
(<1 - 70) 18
(14 - 81)
33 (3 - 80)
24 (13 - 76)
Male 78
(58%) 62
(53%) 0.352
11
(79%) 20
(65%) 0.328
Public space 79
(60%) 80
(69%) 0.123
5
(36%) 10
(34%) 0.934
Outdoor space 57
(45%) 54
(49%) 0.469
<5
<5
Police co-attendance 46
(34%) 46
(38%) 0.532
<5
5
(16%)
Transported to hospital 98
(74%) 76
(80%) 0.254
13
(93%) 20
(80%) 0.283
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 72
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 73
Inhalant-related attendances in local government areas
Inhalant-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 25 and for regional Victoria in Table 26. In
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
postcode (Map 18) levels.
Table 25: Numbers of inhalant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 19 (14%) 19.0 Maroondah 14 (12%) 13.0
Maribyrnong 9 (7%) 12.0 Melbourne 11 (9%) 10.4
Yarra 7 (5%) 8.9 Greater Dandenong 12 (10%) 8.3
Frankston 10 (8%) 7.7 Frankston 9 (7%) 6.8
Hobsons Bay 6 (5%) 6.9 Whitehorse 10 (8%) 6.3
Monash 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
Casey 6 (4%) 2.3
Rest of Melbourne 34 (26%) - Rest of Melbourne 39 (32%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Table 26: Numbers of inhalant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Mildura 5 (16%) 9.6
Ballarat 6 (19%) 6.2
Greater Bendigo 5 (16%) 4.8
Greater Geelong 7 (23%) 3.2
Rest of Regional Victoria 14 (100%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 8 (26%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 74
Map 16: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 75
Map 17: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 76
Map 18: Inhalant-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 77
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 78
Figure 32: Inhalant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 79
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
1964 (478.0)
1901 (454.0)
106
(74.2) 102
(70.9)
Mean per day (SD) 5.37 (2.8)
5.21 (2.9)
0.446
0.29 (0.6)
0.28 (0.6)
0.817
Daily range 0 - 17 0 - 17 0 - 3 0 - 3
Alcohol involved 357
(18%) 348
(18%) 0.902
25
(24%) 19
(18%) 0.340
Age - Mean (SD) 32
(12.67) 35
(9.53) <0.001
34
(12.50) 35
(9.38) 0.546
Age - Median (range) 33
(<1 - 70) 34
(<1 - 85)
35 (<1 - 69)
35 (18 - 62)
Male 1361 (69%)
1325 (70%)
0.820
73 (69%)
69 (68%)
0.854
Public space 1220 (63%)
1168 (62%)
0.616
26 (26%)
28 (29%)
0.596
Outdoor space 1116 (58%)
1037 (56%)
0.125
22 (78%)
24 (82%)
0.742
Police co-attendance 315
(16%) 337
(18%) 0.147
10
(9%) 15
(14%) 0.267
Transported to hospital 672
(35%) 706
(43%) <0.001
51
(50%) 51
(62%) 0.111
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 80
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 81
All heroin-related attendances in local government areas
All heroin-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison) by
local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 28 and for regional Victoria in Table 29. In
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
postcode (Map 21) levels.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 82
Table 28: Numbers of all heroin-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Hume 21 (1%) 12.0 Melton 15 (1%) 12.7
Bayside 11 (0.5%) 11.4 Casey 33 (2%) 12.3
Manningham 12 (1%) 10.3 Manningham 9 (0.5%) 7.7
Mornington Peninsula 6 (0.3%) 4.0 Cardinia 5 (0.3%) 6.2
Rest of Melbourne 6 (0.4%) - Rest of Melbourne 6 (0.3%) -
* % of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Table 29: Numbers of all heroin-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Greater Geelong 39 (37%) 18.1 Greater Geelong 36 (35%) 16.5
East Gippsland 7 (7%) 16.3 Ballarat 15 (15%) 15.5
Greater Bendigo 11 (10%) 10.8 Wodonga 5 (5%) 13.7
Ballarat 9 (9%) 9.5 Baw Baw 6 (6%) 13.5
Greater Bendigo 5 (5%) 4.8
Rest of Regional Victoria 39 (37%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 36 (35%) -
* % of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 83
Map 19: Heroin-related attendances by metropolitan Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 84
Map 20: Heroin-related attendances by regional Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 85
Map 21: Heroin-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 86
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 87
Figure 36: Heroin-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 88
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
1104 (268.7)
960 (229.4)
44
(30.8) 38
(26.1)
Mean per day (SD) 3.02
(2.01) 2.63
(1.90) 0.008
0.12
(0.35) 0.10 (0.33)
0.496
Daily range 0 - 9 0 - 12 0 - 2 0 - 2
Alcohol involved 187
(17%) 166
(17%) 0.830
9
(20%) 5
(13%) 0.390
Age - Mean (SD) 33
(13.43) 36
(9.62) <0.001
34
(14.14) 35
(10.25) 0.489
Age - Median (range) 33
(<1 - 70) 35
(<1 - 85)
34 (<1 - 69)
35 (19 - 62)
Male 792
(72%) 700
(73%) 0.584
34
(77%) 27
(72%) 0.602
Public space 674
(62%) 587
(61%) 0.946
8
(19%) 9
(26%) 0.444
Outdoor space 633
(58%) 540
(57%) 0.499
7
(88%) 9
(87%) 0.977
Police co-attendance 129
(12%) 129
(13%) 0.222
<5
<5
Transported to hospital 245
(23%) 202
(24%) 0.355
12
(30%) 9
(28%) 0.822
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 89
Figure 37: Proportion of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by time of day of week, metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Figure 38: Proportion of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by time of day of week, regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 90
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
attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong (Table 31). Rates of attendances
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).
Table 31: Numbers of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Greater Dandenong 75 (7%) 52.8 Greater Dandenong 70 (7.3%) 48.4
Brimbank 101 (9%) 52.7 Brimbank 79 (8.3%) 40.8
Darebin 50 (5%) 35.0 Stonnington 33 (3.5%) 32.8
Hobsons Bay 21 (2%) 24.0 Frankston 32 (3.4%) 24.3
Stonnington 22 (2%) 22.3 Whitehorse 34 (3.6%) 21.4
Maroondah 23 (2%) 21.4 Darebin 28 (2.9%) 19.4
Moonee Valley 22 (2%) 19.6 Moonee Valley 20 (2.1%) 17.7
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 13 (1%) 7.8 Casey 18 (1.9%) 6.7
Manningham 9 (1%) 7.7 Bayside 6 (0.6%) 6.2
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
Hume 8 (1%) 4.6
Rest of Melbourne 10 (1%) - Rest of Melbourne 10 (1.0%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 91
Table 32: Numbers of heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Greater Geelong 18 (41%) 8.3 Greater Geelong 22 (58%) 10.1
Ballarat 7 (18%) 7.2
Rest of Regional Victoria 26 (59%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 9 (24%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 92
Figure 40: Heroin overdose attendances (responding to naloxone) by year - 2003/04 and 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 93
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
860 (209.3)
940 (224.6)
62
(43.4) 65
(44.8)
Mean per day (SD) 2.35
(1.66) 2.58
(1.89) 0.085
0.17
(0.44) 0.18 (0.42)
0.807
Daily range 0 - 9 0 - 11 0 - 3 0 - 2
Alcohol involved 170
(20%) 182
(19%) 0.834
16
(26%) 14
(21%) 0.533
Age - Mean (SD) 32
(<1 - 61) 33
(<1 - 70) <0.001
35
(<1 - 55) 35
(18 - 53) 0.837
Age - Median (range) 33
(<1 - 70) 35
(<1 - 85)
34 (<1 - 69)
35 (19 - 62)
Male 569
(66%) 625
(66%) 0.917
39
(63%) 42
(65%) 0.804
Public space 546
(65%) 581
(63%) 0.427
18
(31%) 19
(31%) 0.988
Outdoor space 483
(58%) 497
(54%) 0.152
15
(75%) 15
(79%) 0.765
Police co-attendance 186
(22%) 208
(22%) 0.782
9
(15%) 11
(16%) 0.762
Transported to hospital 427
(50%) 504
(63%) <0.001
39
(63%) 42
(84%) 0.013
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 94
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 95
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
attendances in 2012/13 were Yarra, Melbourne and Maribyrnong (Table 34). Rates of attendances
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 heroin-
related 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
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Yarra 141 (16%) 178.7 Yarra 146 (16%) 181.1
Maribyrnong 78 (9%) 103.8 Melbourne 92 (10%) 87.3
Melbourne 98 (11%) 97.8 Maribyrnong 65 (7%) 84.9
Port Phillip 42 (5%) 43.2 Port Phillip 66 (7%) 66.1
Brimbank 77 (9%) 40.2 Brimbank 87 (9%) 44.9
Greater Dandenong 43 (5%) 30.2 Greater Dandenong 64 (7%) 44.2
Darebin 39 (5%) 27.3 Stonnington 24 (3%) 23.8
Stonnington 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
Wyndham 14 (2%) 8.4 Whittlesea 18 (2%) 10.6
Knox 13 (2%) 8.4 Boroondara 16 (2%) 9.5
Hume 13 (2%) 7.5 Yarra Ranges 14 (2%) 9.4
Banyule 9 (1%) 7.3 Glen Eira 10 (1%) 7.2
Yarra Ranges 10 (1%) 6.7 Melton 8 (1%) 6.8
Casey 17 (2%) 6.5 Wyndham 12 (1%) 6.7
Bayside 5 (0.5%) 5.2 Casey 15 (2%) 5.6
Mornington Peninsula 5 (1%) 3.3 Manningham 6 (1%) 5.1
Rest of Melbourne 6 (1%) - Rest of Melbourne 10 (1%) -
* % of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 96
Table 35: Numbers of other heroin-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
East Gippsland 6 (10%) 14.0 Wodonga 5 (8%) 13.7
Greater Geelong 21 (34%) 9.7 Baw Baw 5 (8%) 11.3
Greater Bendigo 7 (11%) 6.9 Ballarat 8 (12%) 8.2
Ballarat 6 (9%) 6.3 Greater Geelong 14 (22%) 6.4
Rest of Regional Victoria 22 (36%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 33 (51%) -
* % of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 97
Figure 44: Other heroin-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 98
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
407 (99.0)
578 (138.1)
41
(28.4) 42
(29.0)
Mean per day (SD) 1.11
(1.27) 1.58 (1.73)
<0.001
0.11 (0.33)
0.11 (0.36)
0.879
Daily range 0 - 7 0 - 13 0 - 2 0 - 2
Alcohol involved 132
(32%) 135
(23%) 0.001
16
(39%) 14
(33%) 0.578
Age - Mean (SD) 26
(10.22) 25
(6.56) 0.046
31
(13.77) 26
(7.79) 0.016
Age - Median (range) 24
(<1 - 66) 23
(4 - 58)
27 (14 - 73)
24 (15 - 47)
Male 242
(59%) 341
(59%) 0.883
23
(56%) 26
(62%) 0.595
Public space 240
(61%) 391
(69%) 0.004
14
(35%) 18
(44%) 0.404
Outdoor space 219
(57%) 375
(67%) 0.001
9
(69%) 14
(70%) 0.951
Police co-attendance 77
(19%) 158
(27%) 0.002
5
(12%) 8
(19%) 0.363
Transported to hospital 330
(82%) 490
(92%) <0.001
35
(86%) 35
(97%) 0.082
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 99
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 100
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
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 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 GHB-
related 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
postcode (Map 24) levels.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 101
Table 37: Numbers of GHB-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 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 Mornington Peninsula 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
Mornington Peninsula 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 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%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Table 38: Numbers of GHB-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Latrobe 7 (17%) 9.5 Moorabool 5 (12%) 17.0
Greater Geelong 10 (24%) 4.6 Wellington 5 (12%) 11.8
Latrobe 7 (17%) 9.5
Greater Geelong 8 (19%) 3.7
Rest of Regional Victoria 23 (59%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 17 (41%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 102
Map 22: GHB-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 103
Map 23: GHB-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 104
Map 24: GHB-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 105
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 106
Figure 48: GHB-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 107
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
197 (48.0)
230 (54.9)
89
(62.0) 104
(72.1)
Mean per day (SD) 0.54
(0.74) 0.63
(0.81)
0.110
0.24 (0.53)
0.28 (0.52)
0.268
Daily range 0 - 5 0 - 5 0 - 3 0 - 2
Alcohol involved 69
(35%) 64
(28%)
0.100
26 (29%)
34 (33%)
0.587
Age - Mean (SD) 38
(13.64) 39
(15.59)
0.387
38 (15.20)
38 (14.97)
0.857
Age - Median (range) 38
(2 - 79) 38
(1 - 100)
38 (3 - 91)
39 (1 - 89)
Male 95
(48%) 94
(41%)
0.135
37 (42%)
51 (49%)
0.287
Public space 36
(18%) 57
(25%)
0.084
15 (17%)
14 (14%)
0.580
Outdoor space 28
(15%) 37
(16%)
0.588
9 (61%)
5 (31%)
0.094
Police co-attendance 33
(17%) 29
(13%)
0.215
6 (7%)
14 (13%)
0.118
Transported to hospital 189
(96%) 218
(98%)
0.271
78 (88%)
99 (99%)
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 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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 108
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 109
Anticonvulsant-related attendances in local government areas
Anticonvulsant-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 40 and for regional
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.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of
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)
and postcode (Map 27) levels.
Table 40: Numbers of anticonvulsant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate*
*
Frankston 16 (8%) 12.3 Mornington Peninsula 20 (9%) 13.3
Greater Dandenong 14 (7%) 9.8 Port Phillip 11 (5%) 11.0
Banyule 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
Kingston 9 (5%) 6.1 Casey 19 (8%) 7.1
Casey 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
Mornington Peninsula 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
Wyndham 6 (3%) 3.3
Rest of Melbourne 37 (19%) - Rest of Melbourne 26 (11%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 110
Table 41: Numbers of anticonvulsant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Greater Bendigo 6 (6%) 5.8
Rest of Regional Victoria 32 (37%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 40 (39%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 111
Map 25: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 112
Map 26: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 113
Map 27: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 114
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 115
Figure 52: Anticonvulsant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 116
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
1060 (257.9)
1221 (291.6)
435
(304.8) 487
(337.56)
Mean per day (SD) 2.90
(1.63) 3.34 (1.72)
<0.001
1.19 (1.05)
1.33 (1.18)
0.081
Daily range 0 - 9 0 - 10 0 - 5 0 - 6
Alcohol involved 410
(39%) 426
(35%) 0.052
196
(45%) 159
(33%) <0.001
Age - Mean (SD) 36
(14.36) 35
(15.36) 0.038
36
(15.92) 34
(15.81) 0.092
Age - Median (range) 36
(<1 - 91) 33
(1 - 97)
35 (<1 - 91)
31 (2 - 92)
Male 388
(37%) 403
(33%) 0.066
133
(31%) 167
(34%) 0.233
Public space 188
(18%) 223
(18%) 0.779
86
(20%) 93
(19%) 0.737
Outdoor space 158
(15%) 195
(16%) 0.492
51
(56%) 45
(49%) 0.310
Police co-attendance 143
(13%) 187
(15%) 0.201
48
(11%) 62
(13%) 0.413
Transported to hospital 1009 (96%)
1151 (97%)
0.066
417 (96%)
450 (98%)
0.033
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
Day of week and time of day of antidepressant-related attendances
As shown in Figure 53 and Figure 54, the distribution of attendances across the times of the day and
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 117
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 118
Antidepressant-related attendances in local government areas
Antidepressant-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison)
by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 43 and for regional Victoria in Table 44. In
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.
In regional Victoria, although Greater Geelong was the LGA with the highest proportion of
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)
and postcode (Map 30) levels.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 119
Table 43: Numbers of antidepressant-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12 LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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 Mornington Peninsula 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
Mornington Peninsula 44 (4%) 29.5 Moonee Valley 36 (3%) 31.8
Knox 45 (4%) 29.1 Casey 85 (7%) 31.7
Yarra 23 (2%) 29.1 Moreland 49 (4%) 31.4
Wyndham 47 (4%) 28.2 Hobsons Bay 26 (2%) 29.5
Cardinia 21 (2%) 27.7 Hume 52 (4%) 29.2
Stonnington 27 (3%) 27.3 Darebin 42 (4%) 29.1
Darebin 38 (4%) 26.6 Maribyrnong 22 (2%) 28.7
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
Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) - Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) -
* % of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 120
Table 44: Numbers of antidepressant-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Horsham 20 (5%) 102.4 Benalla 10 (2%) 72.8
Mansfield 6 (1%) 75.5 East Gippsland 28 (6%) 64.9
Northern Grampians 7 (2%) 58.1 Horsham 12 (3%) 61.0
Central Goldfields 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 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
Greater Shepparton 20 (5%) 32.4 Swan Hill 7 (2%) 33.4
Moira 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 11 (3%) 26.1 Indigo 5 (1%) 32.5
Mitchell 9 (2%) 25.6 Ballarat 30 (6%) 30.9
Warrnambool 8 (2%) 24.5 Corangamite 5 (1%) 30.5
Macedon Ranges 9 (2%) 21.0 Mildura 15 (3%) 28.7
Moorabool 6 (1%) 20.9 Mount Alexander 5 (1%) 28.0
Ballarat 19 (4%) 20.0 Moorabool 8 (2%) 27.3
Campaspe 7 (2%) 19.0 South Gippsland 7 (2%) 25.2
Baw Baw 10 (2%) 22.5
Macedon Ranges 9 (2%) 20.7
Warrnambool 5 (1%) 15.2
Rest of Regional Victoria 55 (13%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 43 (9%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 121
Map 28: Antidepressant-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 122
Map 29: Antidepressant -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 123
Map 30: Antidepressant-related attendances Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 124
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 125
Figure 56: Antidepressant-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 126
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
964 (234.5)
1145 (273.5)
337
(236.0) 425
(294.7)
Mean per day (SD) 2.63
(1.65) 3.14 (1.79)
<0.001
0.92 (1.02)
1.16 (1.19)
0.003
Daily range 0 - 9 0 - 9 0 - 6 0 - 6
Alcohol involved 313
(32%) 365
(32%) 0.778
119
(35%) 111
(26%) 0.006
Age - Mean (SD) 35
(13.48) 36
(13.80) 0.593
36
(14.86) 34
(13.93) 0.066
Age - Median (range) 36
(<1 - 89) 35
(1 - 100)
33 (<1 - 95)
32 (1 - 89)
Male 369
(38%) 405
(35%) 0.166
112
(33%) 164
(39%) 0.112
Public space 213
(22%) 263
(23%) 0.626
64
(19%) 66
(16%) 0.252
Outdoor space 159
(17%) 213
(19%) 0.185
35
(51%) 29
(42%) 0.294
Police co-attendance 148
(15%) 194
(17%) 0.304
40
(12%) 70
(16%) 0.069
Transported to hospital 921
(96%) 1066 (97%)
0.268
318 (95%)
387 (97%)
0.481
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 127
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 128
Antipsychotic-related attendances in local government areas
Antipsychotic-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for comparison)
by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 46 and for regional Victoria in Table 47. In
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 antipsychotic-
related 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
postcode (Map 33) levels.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 129
Table 46: Numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA
2011/12
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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 Mornington Peninsula 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
Mornington Peninsula 43 (4%) 28.8 Yarra Ranges 47 (4%) 31.5
Hobsons Bay 25 (3%) 28.6 Nillumbik 19 (2%) 30.3
Greater Dandenong 40 (4%) 28.1 Cardinia 24 (2%) 30.0
Wyndham 46 (5%) 27.6 Moreland 46 (4%) 29.5
Yarra Ranges 36 (4%) 24.2 Greater Dandenong 42 (4%) 29.0
Banyule 29 (3%) 23.6 Darebin 41 (4%) 28.5
Moonee Valley 26 (3%) 23.2 Yarra 23 (2%) 28.5
Cardinia 16 (2%) 21.1 Knox 43 (4%) 27.8
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%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 130
Table 47: Numbers of antipsychotic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Horsham 11 (3%) 56.3 East Gippsland 28 (7%) 64.9
Latrobe 32 (10%) 43.4 Northern Grampians 7 (2%) 58.5
Moira 12 (4%) 42.2 Greater Bendigo 53 (13%) 51.1
East Gippsland 16 (5%) 37.4 Gannawarra 5 (1%) 48.1
Greater Shepparton 21 (6%) 34.0 Latrobe 34 (8%) 46.0
Wangaratta 9 (3%) 33.1 Mildura 24 (6%) 46.0
Baw Baw 14 (4%) 32.3 Greater Shepparton 26 (6%) 41.7
Greater Geelong 66 (20%) 30.6 Greater Geelong 76 (18%) 34.8
Mildura 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
Wellington 9 (3%) 21.4 Wangaratta 8 (2%) 29.4
Greater Bendigo 21 (6%) 20.6 Colac- Otway 6 (1%) 28.9
Campaspe 7 (2%) 19.0 Mount Alexander 5 (1%) 28.0
Warrnambool 6 (2%) 18.4 Wellington 11 (3%) 26.0
Moorabool 5 (2%) 17.4 Glenelg 5 (1%) 25.3
Bass Coast 5 (2%) 16.5 Moorabool 7 (2%) 23.9
Ballarat 14 (4%) 14.7 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 5 (1%) 13.5
Ballarat 10 (2%) 10.3
Rest of Regional Victoria 60 (18%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 29 (7%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 131
Map 31: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 132
Map 32: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 133
Map 33: Antipsychotic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 134
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 135
Figure 60: Antipsychotic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 136
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
458 (111.4)
711 (169.8)
288
(201.9) 350
(242.4)
Mean per day (SD) 1.25
(1.22) 1.95
(1.39) <0.001
0.79
(0.86) 0.96
(0.96) 0.012
Daily range 0 - 7 0 – 7 0 - 4 0 - 5
Alcohol involved 148
(32%) 222
(31%) 0.676
99
(34%) 88
(25%) 0.012
Age - Mean (SD) 41
(17.68) 42
(17.37) 0.322
41
(17.54) 44
(17.48) 0.021
Age - Median (range) 40
(<1 - 98) 40
(1 - 96)
39 (<1 - 96)
41 (1 - 99)
Male 220
(48%) 341
(48%) 0.964
146
(51%) 179
(51%) 0.905
Public space 107
(23%) 142
(20%) 0.165
57
(20%) 60
(17%) 0.352
Outdoor space 74
(16%) 105
(15%) 0.521
24
(43%) 32
(52%) 0.307
Police co-attendance 63
(14%) 102
(14%) 0.769
15
(5%) 40
(11%) 0.005
Transported to hospital 389
(85%) 617
(92%) 0.001
255
(89%) 279
(88%) 0.916
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
Day of week and time of day of opioid analgesic-related attendances
As shown in Figure 61 and Figure 62, the distribution of attendances across the times of the day and
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 137
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 138
Opioid analgesic-related attendances in local government areas
Opioid analgesic-related ambulance attendances are presented for 2012/13 (and 2011/12 for
comparison) by local government area for metropolitan Melbourne in Table 49 and for regional
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 analgesic-
related 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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 139
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
LGA
2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
Melbourne 26 (5.8%) 25.9 Frankston 46 (6.5%) 35.0
Frankston 32 (7.0%) 24.5 Port Phillip 27 (3.8%) 27.0
Mornington Peninsula 31 (6.7%) 20.8 Yarra Ranges 38 (5.4%) 25.5
Yarra 16 (3.5%) 20.3 Melton 28 (4.0%) 23.7
Casey 40 (8.8%) 15.3 Melbourne 25 (3.5%) 23.7
Hume 24 (5.3%) 13.8 Cardinia 19 (2.7%) 23.7
Moonee Valley 15 (3.3%) 13.4 Moonee Valley 25 (3.5%) 22.1
Melton 15 (3.3%) 13.3 Mornington Peninsula 33 (4.7%) 21.9
Banyule 15 (3.2%) 12.2 Yarra 17 (2.4%) 21.1
Maroondah 13 (2.8%) 12.1 Kingston 31 (4.4%) 20.7
Stonnington 12 (2.7%) 12.1 Maribyrnong 15 (2.1%) 19.6
Maribyrnong 9 (1.9%) 12.0 Darebin 28 (4.0%) 19.4
Port Phillip 11 (2.3%) 11.3 Hume 33 (4.7%) 18.5
Darebin 16 (3.5%) 11.2 Banyule 22 (3.1%) 17.8
Kingston 16 (3.5%) 10.8 Casey 47 (6.6%) 17.5
Glen Eira 14 (3.0%) 10.2 Greater Dandenong 25 (3.5%) 17.3
Knox 15 (3.2%) 9.7 Wyndham 28 (4.0%) 15.6
Nillumbik 6 (1.4%) 9.6 Whittlesea 26 (3.7%) 15.3
Greater Dandenong 13 (2.7%) 9.1 Maroondah 16 (2.3%) 14.8
Monash 15 (3.2%) 8.5 Bayside 14 (2.0%) 14.5
Moreland 13 (2.8%) 8.4 Nillumbik 9 (1.3%) 14.4
Whitehorse 13 (2.9%) 8.3 Stonnington 4 (2.0%) 13.9
Yarra Ranges 12 (2.7%) 8.1 Brimbank 26 (3.7%) 13.4
Wyndham 13 (2.8%) 7.8 Moreland 21 (3.0%) 13.4
Whittlesea 12 (2.7%) 7.5 Whitehorse 21 (3.0%) 13.2
Brimbank 14 (3.1%) 7.3 Knox 17 (2.4%) 11.0
Hobsons Bay 6 (1.4%) 6.9 Glen Eira 15 (2.1%) 10.8
Bayside 6 (1.4%) 6.2 Manningham 12 (1.7%) 10.3
Boroondara 9 (2.0%) 5.4 Monash 15 (2.1%) 8.3
Hobsons Bay 6 (0.8%) 6.8
Boroondara 9 (1.3%) 5.3
Rest of Melbourne 5 (1.1%) - Rest of Melbourne 0 (0%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 140
Table 50: Numbers of opioid analgesic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** N (%*) Rate**
East Gippsland 22 (8%) 51.4 Horsham 12 (4%) 61.0
Wodonga 18 (6%) 50.0 East Gippsland 20 (6%) 46.3
Northern Grampians 6 (2%) 49.8 Mildura 22 (6%) 42.1
Latrobe 26 (9%) 35.2 Northern Grampians 5 (1%) 41.8
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 17 (5%) 17.5
Macedon Ranges 6 (2%) 13.8
Mitchell 5 (1%) 13.8
Rest of Regional Victoria 54 (19%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 41 (12%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 141
Map 34: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 142
Map 35: Opioid analgesic -related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 143
Map 36: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 144
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 145
Figure 64: Opioid analgesic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 146
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
1149 (279.57)
1584 (378.49)
451
(315.47) 603
(418.14)
Mean per day (SD) 3.14
(1.82) 4.34
(1.98) <0.001
1.23
(1.12) 1.65
(1.30) <0.001
Daily range 0 - 10 0 - 11 0 - 6 0 - 6
Alcohol involved 427
(37%) 514
(32%) 0.007
144
(32%) 173
(29%) 0.228
Age - Mean (SD) 33
(15.71) 33
(16.30) 0.984
33
(17.19) 33
(16.99) 0.550
Age - Median (range) 31
(<1 - 93) 29
(<1 - 100)
31 (<1 - 95)
28 (1 - 94)
Male 327
(28%) 451
(29%) 0.984
139
(31%) 180
(30%) 0.730
Public space 255
(22%) 296
(19%) 0.019
111
(26%) 131
(22%) 0.184
Outdoor space 169
(15%) 232
(15%) 0.997
57
(52%) 69
(54%) 0.750
Police co-attendance 128
(11%) 208
(13%) 0.106
40
(9%) 76
(13%) 0.053
Transported to hospital 1100 (96%)
1506 (98%)
<0.001
427 (95%)
562 (98%)
0.006
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 147
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 148
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
attendances increased across the majority of LGAs when compared with the previous year.
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 )
and postcode (Map 39) levels.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 149
Table 52: Numbers of other analgesic-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Mornington Peninsula 52 (4.5%) 34.8 Mornington Peninsula 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%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 150
Table 53: Numbers of other analgesic-related attendances by local government area in regional Victoria - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Corangamite 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
Golden Plains 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
Rest of Regional Victoria 61 (13.5%) - Rest of Regional Victoria 38 (6.4%) -
*% of regional Victoria ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 151
Map 37: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 152
Map 38: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 153
Map 39: Other analgesic-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 154
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 155
Figure 68: Other analgesic-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 156
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
Metropolitan Melbourne Regional Victoria
2011/12 2012/13 p 2011/12 2012/13 p
N attendances (per 1m population)
88 (21.4)
122 (29.1)
7
(4.8) 10
(6.9)
Mean per day (SD) 0.24
(0.52) 0.33
(0.69) 0.038
0.02
(0.13) 0.03 (0.16)
0.428
Daily range 0 - 3 0 - 4 0 - 1 0 - 1
Alcohol involved 56
(64%) 78
(64%) 0.963
<5
<5
Age - Mean (SD) 30
(10.01) 30
(8.78) 0.689
25
(12.76) 34
(9.34) 0.086
Age - Median (range) 29
(<1 - 61) 28
(15 - 56)
28 (<1 - 38)
35 (19 - 45)
Male 55
(63%) 82
(67%) 0.538
* *
0.656
Public space 34
(40%) 53
(45%) 0.429
<5
<5
Outdoor space 36
(42%) 45
(39%) 0.672
<5
<5
Police co-attendance 12
(14%) 24
(20%) 0.234
<5
<5
Transported to hospital 66
(76%) 89
(87%) 0.036
<5
10
(100%)
Note: Except where indicated, all figures in the proportions are based on non-missing information. *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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 157
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 158
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
postcode (Map 42) levels.
Table 55: Numbers of cocaine-related attendances by local government area in metropolitan Melbourne - 2011/12 and 2012/13
LGA 2011/12
LGA 2012/13
N (%*) Rate** 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
Yarra 6 (6.8%) 7.6 Port Phillip 11 (9.1%) 11.0
Darebin 7 (8.0%) 4.9 Stonnington 9 (7.4%) 8.9
Maroondah 5 (5.5%) 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
Brimbank 5 (4.1%) 2.6
Rest of Melbourne 47 (53.5%) - Rest of Melbourne 39 (32.4%) -
*% of metropolitan Melbourne ** per 100,000 population
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 159
Map 40: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 160
Map 41: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian LGA, rates per 100,000 ERP - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 161
Map 42: Cocaine-related attendances by Victorian postcode, numbers of attendances - 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 162
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 163
Figure 72: Cocaine-related attendances by year - 2003/04 to 2012/13
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 164
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 165
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 166
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.
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.
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 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.
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
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 167
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 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.
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.
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 168
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Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 169
Appendix
Map 43: LGAs of outer metropolitan Melbourne
Brimbank (C)
Maroondah (C)
Kingston (C)
Greater Dandenong (C)
Cardinia (S)Casey (C)
Frankston (C)
Hume (C)
Knox (C)
Melton (S)
Mornington Peninsula (S)
Nillumbik (S)
Whittlesea (C)
Wyndham (C)
Yarra Ranges (S)
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 170
Map 44: LGAs of inner metropolitan Melbourne
Port Phillip (C)
Maribyrnong (C)
Melbourne (C)
Hobsons Bay (C)
Yarra (C)
Boroondara (C)
Stonnington (C)
Glen Eira (C)
Bayside (C)
Monash (C)
Manningham (C)
Moreland (C) Darebin (C) Banyule (C)
Casey (C)
Hume (C)
Moonee Valley (C)
Nillumbik (S)
Whitehorse (C)
Whittlesea (C)
Wyndham (C)
Yarra Ranges (S)
Ambo Project: Alcohol and Drug related Ambulance Attendances – 2012/13 Annual Report Page 171
Map 45: LGAs of regional Victoria