❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Premier on the delay in implementing mandatory rehabilitation for methamphetamine addicts, as promised during the election. The Premier responds by highlighting a decline in meth usage since 2016 and outlining current measures, including a planned trial of compulsory rehabilitation, while emphasizing the importance of individual motivation in addiction recovery.
AnsweredQoN 1001Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METHAMPHETAMINE ––
MANDATORY REHABILITATION TREATMENT
1001. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I refer to out-of-control meth use
in Western Australia and the horrific impact it is having on families across
our state. After almost three years in government, when will the Premier
introduce mandatory rehabilitation treatment for meth addicts, as he promised
to do at the last election?
MANDATORY REHABILITATION TREATMENT
1001. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I refer to out-of-control meth use
in Western Australia and the horrific impact it is having on families across
our state. After almost three years in government, when will the Premier
introduce mandatory rehabilitation treatment for meth addicts, as he promised
to do at the last election?
AnswerView source ↗
I answered a number of questions
about methamphetamine use earlier this week, I think. According to the latest
wastewater testing, we have seen a decline of 25 per cent in meth usage since
the peak in 2016 when the opposition leader was the police minister. The
highest rate of methamphetamine use in the history of Western Australia was
when the opposition leader was police minister.
We
have put in place a whole range of measures to deal with this important issue—the
Meth Border Force, the meth rehabilitation prison and additional
treatment facilities and beds across the state. The list goes on. They are all
important initiatives. Some months ago we announced the meth action plan and
funding for that of, from memory, over $40 million. Part of that was to work up
a plan towards a trial of some sort of compulsory rehabilitation. I understand
that the Minister for Health is working on that.
Just so that the member knows, most
of the advice—in fact, all the advice—says that people who want
to get off drugs have to want to get off
drugs. If a person wants to get off a drug, they have to want to get off it. I think
all of us who have interacted with people with addictions, whether it is
drugs, alcohol or anything else––even cigarettes––will
say that the people who are successful are the ones who want to get off it. I think
it is worth trialling. We are working out
the plan on the basis of what is happening in New South Wales, which, from
memory, has a compulsory trial there. We will look at the results of
that before we go further with what we will do in Western Australia. But the
most important thing is to provide an opportunity for people who want to get
off the drug, so whether it is the programs in your electorate, Mr Speaker, or
programs in the member for Bunbury's electorate––all
the ones that I visit––we meet people who say that they are
desperate to get off and, therefore, the programs that are being implemented
actually have an increased chance of success.
about methamphetamine use earlier this week, I think. According to the latest
wastewater testing, we have seen a decline of 25 per cent in meth usage since
the peak in 2016 when the opposition leader was the police minister. The
highest rate of methamphetamine use in the history of Western Australia was
when the opposition leader was police minister.
We
have put in place a whole range of measures to deal with this important issue—the
Meth Border Force, the meth rehabilitation prison and additional
treatment facilities and beds across the state. The list goes on. They are all
important initiatives. Some months ago we announced the meth action plan and
funding for that of, from memory, over $40 million. Part of that was to work up
a plan towards a trial of some sort of compulsory rehabilitation. I understand
that the Minister for Health is working on that.
Just so that the member knows, most
of the advice—in fact, all the advice—says that people who want
to get off drugs have to want to get off
drugs. If a person wants to get off a drug, they have to want to get off it. I think
all of us who have interacted with people with addictions, whether it is
drugs, alcohol or anything else––even cigarettes––will
say that the people who are successful are the ones who want to get off it. I think
it is worth trialling. We are working out
the plan on the basis of what is happening in New South Wales, which, from
memory, has a compulsory trial there. We will look at the results of
that before we go further with what we will do in Western Australia. But the
most important thing is to provide an opportunity for people who want to get
off the drug, so whether it is the programs in your electorate, Mr Speaker, or
programs in the member for Bunbury's electorate––all
the ones that I visit––we meet people who say that they are
desperate to get off and, therefore, the programs that are being implemented
actually have an increased chance of success.
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