Parents call for change as drug overdose deaths hit record high in Qld

It was 1am when a police officer knocked on Les and Pat Stelling's front door in central Queensland."He told us that our son had died through overdose of drugs," Mr Stelling recalled.Their son Ian, who was working interstate as a boilermaker, lost his life in a hotel room in 1998 from an accidental overdose after drinking alcohol and taking heroin.Ian Stelling lost his life in a hotel room in 1998. (Supplied)He was the father of a seven-year-old boy.For his family, his death came out of the blue."We've never got over it," Mr Stelling said.Mrs Stelling said she loved "everything" about her son, who she described as "a really nice bloke"."Loved football, loved his mates, loved his family. He was just a normal kid, didn't seem to get into trouble," she said.The Stellings with their grandson Christian, who has lived without his father since his overdose death. (Supplied: Conor Ashleigh)In recent years the couple has supported another close family member through drug addiction.They are advocating for wider access to the opioid blocking medication Naloxone, as well as a system of drug checking, which was outlawed by the Queensland government in 2025."With drugs, you don't have a clue what you're taking, how strong it is, and what's in it," Mr Stelling said.Les Stelling says people "don't have a clue" how strong or what is in drugs. (Supplied: Conor Ashleigh)Worst year ever for overdose deathsQueensland has recorded its highest number of unintentional overdose deaths on record, according to an annual report released by the Penington Institute on Friday.The analysis found 417 people lost their lives due to overdoses in Queensland in 2024, the latest reporting period.Nationally, unintentional drug-induced deaths surpassed 2,000 for the first time ever, far exceeding the road toll.In the report, Penington Institute CEO John Ryan described overdose deaths as "preventable" saying the latest findings "should be a wake-up call for governments, policymakers and the community".John Ryan says the findings should be a "wake-up call" for decision makers. (ABC News: Billy Draper)Regional Queensland recorded a higher rate of overdose deaths than greater Brisbane with 7.9 deaths per 100,000 residents, compared with 6.8 per 100,000.Amphetamine-type stimulants were the biggest killer in Queensland, followed by heroin and benzodiazepines, according to the report.Chief executive of Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA), Emma Kill, said overdoses were "costing us people we shouldn't be losing".Emma Kill wants the Queensland government to establish an overdose strategy. (ABC News: Janelle Miles)"Every year we say the same things and hope something changes. It won't — not until we take real, proactive action around the sheer number of lives we are losing," Ms Kill said."We are calling on the Queensland government to establish a dedicated overdose strategy for this state that is multidisciplinary, one that centres the experiences of people around overdose, and of families who have lost someone to it."ABC News asked the office of the Queensland Health Minister, Tim Nicholls, for the government's response to the overdose numbers and if it would establish an overdose strategy.In a statement, a spokesperson for the minister said: "The Crisafulli government has made its position clear: there is no safe way to take drugs."Pat Stelling says she loved "everything" about her son. (Supplied: Conor Ashleigh)Mrs Stelling described that response as "a put you down line"."It's just to shut you up, and I don't like that," she said.The government also said it was investing $394.4 million in "additional funding" for statewide mental health, alcohol and drug services from the Mental Health Levy, which it said was mismanaged by the former Labor government.