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A 24-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a woman in June this year.
On 5 June (2024) the woman was presented to North Canberra Hospital in an unconscious state and a short time later was pronounced deceased. ACT Criminal Investigations officers attended the scene and an investigation into the manner and cause of her death commenced.
As a result of that investigation, police will allege the victim agreed to be injected with heroin and the 24-year-old man did so at her request. It will also be alleged that the man failed to seek medical assistance appropriately and failed to properly administer a life-saving dose of Narcan (opioid reversal drug) at the time.
Today (Friday, 6 December 2024) the man presented to police and was charged with three offences - manslaughter, administer a declared substance and traffic in cannabis. He is scheduled to appear in the ACT Magistrates court this afternoon.
During this investigation (and in similar matters ACT Policing is investigating) a number of contributary factors were identified:
- The mixture of different types of intoxicating substances which can significantly increase the risk of death to an illicit drug user.
- The incorrect initial administration of Narcan. While Narcan nasal sprays are freely available and are relatively simple to use, if not used appropriately they provide no assistance to a person who may be overdosing.
- The importance of monitoring people after they have consumed illicit substances and immediately calling for medical help if they are unresponsive.
ACT Policing urges all illicit drug users, especially those using depressive drugs such as heroin, to be aware of the dangers and to consider their and other users' safety. Do not hesitate to call Triple Zero in an emergency.
There is also a range of support services and advice for those using drugs from Canberra drug treatment organisations:
https://directionshealth.com/cantest-health-drug-checking-service/
https://www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/services-and-clinics/alcohol-and-drug-services
https://www.act.gov.au/health/topics/drugs-alcohol-smoking-and-vaping/drug-checking