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Age and purity contribute to overdose capital

Drug support services say WA's ageing population and the purity of local heroin are contributing to the State's high rates of fatal overdoses.

The WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies and the WA Substance Users' Association said yesterday that people who used illicit drugs and abused prescription drugs were getting older and might be more susceptible to overdose because of age-related medical issues and the use of other medications.

The comments came after Bureau of Statistics figures commissioned by the Penington Institute showed last week that Perth had the highest rate of fatal accidental overdose of any Australian capital city.

The groups said the purity of locally available heroin was likely to be a factor.