There are more than five drug-induced deaths every day in Australia and many of these could have been avoided.

With the high incidence of drug overdose in Bass Coast, Bass Coast Health's Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselling team is raising awareness of their services that help people impacted by drug addiction.

Deb Guy, BCH's Team Leader Alcohol and Other Drug Services, said the devastating impact of a person dying from an overdose has a ripple effect, not only on the person's loved ones, but also their community.

"Many of these deaths could have been prevented if there was more awareness of what to do in the case of an overdose," she said.

"There has been an increase in overdoses in the community due to the introduction of synthetic opiates called Nitazenes which are mixed in with other drugs.

"There is global concern about the rising rates of harm due to Nitazenes - a class of potent synthetic opioids that can be 50-500 times stronger than heroin - that are appearing in unregulated drug supplies, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and black-market diazepam."

Ms Guy said if someone suspects a person has overdosed, they can administer Naloxone nasal spray to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. Under the national Take Home Naloxone program, Naloxone will be available free of charge and without a prescription at participating pharmacies.

Naloxone is also available over the counter from non-participating Take Home Naloxone program pharmacies for a fee.

"Anyone who is using opiates, whether they are prescribed or not, should have Naloxone spray in their first aid kit and make sure their family members know where the spray is kept," Ms Guy said.

The BCH Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselling Team provides supportive, safe and confidential services for people impacted by drugs and alcohol - whether personally or through the habits of another.

BCH offers non-residential withdrawal services, pharmacotherapy for people who want to stop taking heroin or pain-relieving drugs, counselling services, a care and recovery program, and a family support program. All services are free.

There are also Needle and Syringe dispensing machines at the Phillip Island Health Hub and Wonthaggi Hospital. These machines provide free needles, sharps and swabs to the community to promote safe injecting, which prevents the spread of blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis.

In addition to providing individual support, BCH offers SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) at the Phillip Island Health Hub in Cowes every Tuesday at 11am and at the Allied Health building in Wonthaggi Hospital every Thursday at 1pm. Meetings are based on cognitive behaviour therapy and peer support style with a trained facilitator and run for 60-90 minutes. Any enquiries regarding these meetings can be directed to Deb Guy on 5671 3506.

To access BCH's Alcohol and Other Drug Services, call the Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) on 1300 022 760.

For Family Support or to see an Alcohol and Other Drugs Nurse Practitioner, phone the Access intake service on 5671 3175. A GP referral is needed to see a BCH Nurse Practitioner.