Hon. Sophia Moermond raises concerns about growing methamphetamine use in the Kimberley region, questioning the government's response and the potential benefits of low-withdrawal medical beds. The Minister for Health outlines existing funding and the upcoming Kimberley withdrawal and intervention centre.

AnsweredQoN 1303Legislative Council
Asked
23 October 2024
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

METHAMPHETAMINE —
USE — KIMBERLEY REGION
1303. Hon SOPHIA MOERMOND to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to an ABC news article
titled ''Methamphetamine addicts left with 'nowhere to go'
in the Kimberley'', published on 20 October.
(1) How is the government addressing
growing meth use and addiction in WA's far north?
(2) Is the government investigating the potential
benefit of low-withdrawal medical beds in the West Kimberley ?
(3) If no to (2), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Health.
(1) The Mental
Health Commission provides over $28.8 million to the WA Country Health Service
for the provision of specialised public mental health and alcohol and other
drug services in the Kimberley. This includes
the Kimberley Community Alcohol and Drug Services, which provides outpatient
AOD counselling for individuals and
families, prevention activities and diversion services. This financial year,
the commission is also providing approximately $9 million to
non-government organisations for a range of mental health and AOD treatment
services in the Kimberley. Additionally, there are two commonwealth-funded
residential AOD rehabilitation centres operated by Aboriginal corporations in
Broome and Wyndham.
(2)–(3) The
Kimberley withdrawal and intervention centre is scheduled to start operating in
February 2025. The service will be operated by Wunan Foundation, which is a local
Aboriginal corporation. The service will be located in Kununurra but will be
accessible for people from across the Kimberley.

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