A former heroin addict, whose brother died from a drug overdose, has called for a life-saving drug that reverses the effect of opioids to be freely available.
Naloxone has been put in the spotlight following a report into fatal opioid overdoses skyrocketing in Australia.
The Penington Institute has issued a plea for the drug, which can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, to be made available for free at pharmacies and hospital emergency rooms.
Opioids are the illegal drug heroin, along with prescription drugs such as oxycodone, codeine and morphine.
Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan warned Australia was hurtling towards a "United States style drug overdose crisis" after 2177 people died in 2016.
Prescription opioid deaths jumped 87 per cent in Australia in the seven years from 2008.
"There are answers to this crisis and we absolutely need to put the focus on a naloxone and put it in the hands of the people who need it the most," Mr Ryan said.
Health Minister Greg Hunt launched a report from the Penington Institute in parliament on Wednesday, saying more needed to be done to prevent drug-related deaths.
During the launch, a Victorian woman shared her battle with drug addiction and the pain of her brother dying in preventable circumstances.
Bendigo's Narelle Hassett almost died herself after overdosing on heroin 20 years ago, before paramedics issued her with naloxone.
She has turned her life around and has become an active campaigner for awareness around naloxone.
Her brother Shane was not so lucky and died in 2010, leaving a six-month old daughter behind.
"My story is a contrast - I'm here today because naloxone saved my life," Ms Hassett told AAP.
"But there's so many others like my younger brother who aren't alive now.
"To think if my parents had naloxone that morning and knew how to administer it and knew how to do all the right things with it, he'd still be here today.
"His little girl is seven now and she always asks about her daddy. It's quite upsetting."
Australian Associated Press
