❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the prevalence and cost of illicit drug-related mental health issues at Graylands Hospital, seeking data on admissions, costs, and comparison with funding for drug awareness campaigns. The answer provides data on admissions and funding but acknowledges difficulty in accurately calculating costs.
AnsweredQoN 1116Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Anecdotal evidence presented to me by mental health nurses working in Graylands Hospital indicates 70% or more of the admissions to their hospital are drug-related. Given the clear medical evidence that even short-term use of marijuana, ice and other drugs can cause both short- and long-term mental health problems, could the Minister please advise as to:
(a) what proportion of presentations and admissions to Graylands Hospital are known to be illicit-drug related;
(b) what is the cost to the mental health system each year for treating illicit-drug related or illicit-drug induced mental illness; and
(c) how do these costs compare with the funding currently allocated to “say no to drugs” type campaigns funded by the Government?
(a) what proportion of presentations and admissions to Graylands Hospital are known to be illicit-drug related;
(b) what is the cost to the mental health system each year for treating illicit-drug related or illicit-drug induced mental illness; and
(c) how do these costs compare with the funding currently allocated to “say no to drugs” type campaigns funded by the Government?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2009
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
29 days
(a) Of all discharges from Graylands Hospital in 2008/09, 8% were related to illicit drugs as the primary reason for admission and 29% as the secondary reason for admissions based on diagnostic and coding information. Of all occasions of service provided by Graylands Hospital ambulatory (non-admitted services) in 2008/09, 1% was related to illicit drugs as the primary reason for presentation based on diagnostic and coding information.
(b) It is difficult to calculate costs to the mental health system for treating illicit drug related or illicit drug induced mental illness with any level of confidence without a detailed costing study that takes into consideration the acuity of the patient, the type of treatment facility, the treating clinician and other resources that are utilised to provide treatment. What is known is the volume of the admissions and presentations to the public mental health system based on diagnostic and coding information.
(c) Funding of $915,000 was provided in 2008/09 towards the Drug Aware program and allocated across the Amphetamines campaign, the Night Venues, the Entertainment Events project; and the Volatile Substances project.
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(b) It is difficult to calculate costs to the mental health system for treating illicit drug related or illicit drug induced mental illness with any level of confidence without a detailed costing study that takes into consideration the acuity of the patient, the type of treatment facility, the treating clinician and other resources that are utilised to provide treatment. What is known is the volume of the admissions and presentations to the public mental health system based on diagnostic and coding information.
(c) Funding of $915,000 was provided in 2008/09 towards the Drug Aware program and allocated across the Amphetamines campaign, the Night Venues, the Entertainment Events project; and the Volatile Substances project.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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