Penington Institute figures show 37 of the 103 drug-related deaths in Bendigo from 2001 - 2015 involved opioids.

Painkillers such as codeine, oxycodone, fentanyl and morphine are opioid-based drugs, as are methadone and heroin.

Penington Institute chief executive officer John Ryan said the need to equip frontline health workers with practical knowledge about how to properly respond to an opioid overdose had never been more urgent.

“Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2017 shows that communities throughout Australia are increasingly at risk of accidental overdose from opioid-based drugs,” he said.

The institute is offering the region’s frontline health workers two hours of training next week to help address the issue.

The Pharmaceutical Risk and Response Seminar is funded as part of the state government’s Naloxone Subsidy Initiative.

Naloxone is the medication administered to counter opioid overdoses.

If you, or someone you know, needs help for substance dependence of abuse, phone the DirectLine 24-hour alcohol and drug counselling service: 1800 888 236.