❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Minister for Mental Health about funding for drug and alcohol services in the South West, particularly regarding rehabilitation access. The Minister acknowledges the issue and highlights increased harm from amphetamine use, referencing the WA Mental Health and AOD Services Plan.
AnsweredQoN 1223Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTH WEST COMMUNITY DRUG SERVICE TEAM
1223. Hon ADELE FARINA to the Minister for Mental Health:
(1) How much
funding has been allocated in 2014–15 budget to the drug and alcohol
team operating in Bunbury?
(2) How much
growth funding did they receive in the 2014–15 budget and what, if any,
additional funding did they receive over and above the growth funding?
(3) Is the
minister aware of the growing drug and alcohol abuse in the south west and the
six-week wait time to access a rehabilitation facility in Perth?
(4) When will
the minister fund a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Bunbury to
provide timely and local access to appropriate and much-needed treatment?
1223. Hon ADELE FARINA to the Minister for Mental Health:
(1) How much
funding has been allocated in 2014–15 budget to the drug and alcohol
team operating in Bunbury?
(2) How much
growth funding did they receive in the 2014–15 budget and what, if any,
additional funding did they receive over and above the growth funding?
(3) Is the
minister aware of the growing drug and alcohol abuse in the south west and the
six-week wait time to access a rehabilitation facility in Perth?
(4) When will
the minister fund a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Bunbury to
provide timely and local access to appropriate and much-needed treatment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. At the
outset, I commend the ABC for its reporting and coverage mostly around
amphetamines in not only Western Australia, but also the south west in
particular. I will make some comments about that as well.
(1) In 2014–15,
the Drug and Alcohol Office expects to provide around $1 217 000 to the South
West Community Drug Service Team. The service is operated by St John of God
Health Care and is based in Bunbury, with outreach services provided to
Busselton, Margaret River, Manjimup, Collie and Bridgetown.
(2) The
increase in the 2014–15 budget totals approximately $120 000 and
includes indexation and an additional $67 500 provided through a component II
allocation under the ''Delivering Community Services in Partnership
Policy''.
(3) I am aware
of current drug trends and a recent increase in drug-related harms in the south
west. The point I want to clarify is that the increase is particularly related
to amphetamines, which is what most of the media coverage has been about
recently, and an increase in harm rather than an increase in usage. Since 1998,
the actual usage of amphetamines has been declining in Western Australia and
Australia. However, the increase in harm is evidenced by more people going to
emergency departments, more people being hospitalised and more people seeking
treatment. The reason that the harm is so much greater, while the usage has
been declining, is the potency of the amphetamines. Samples from recent times
have shown the highest purity levels that we have ever seen. The form in which
it is being taken is also a factor. An increased number of people are smoking
in this area, and because methylamphetamine has a higher level of purity,
people smoke it and get a higher level of purity straightaway. Those who take
the drug are also taking it more frequently. The increase in presentations for
treatment et cetera is not because more people are using amphetamines, but
because those who are using it are using it differently and the harm from that
is becoming more evident.
Wait times can vary over the year
and are approximate dependent on client circumstances, whether the client needs
withdrawal management and whether a bed becomes available. Currently, waiting
times for two of the residential rehabilitation facilities in the south
metropolitan area that are closest to people in the south west vary from one to
four weeks. I am aware that that time depends on whether a male or a female is
seeking admission et cetera. I am also aware that a private unit has recently
opened in the south west.
(4) The need
for a new alcohol and other drug residential treatment and rehabilitation
service in the south west has been highlighted through the work to develop the ''Western
Australia Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–25''.
Hon
Adele Farina : But when will
we get one?
Hon
HELEN MORTON : I am on the
record talking about that with the ABC.
outset, I commend the ABC for its reporting and coverage mostly around
amphetamines in not only Western Australia, but also the south west in
particular. I will make some comments about that as well.
(1) In 2014–15,
the Drug and Alcohol Office expects to provide around $1 217 000 to the South
West Community Drug Service Team. The service is operated by St John of God
Health Care and is based in Bunbury, with outreach services provided to
Busselton, Margaret River, Manjimup, Collie and Bridgetown.
(2) The
increase in the 2014–15 budget totals approximately $120 000 and
includes indexation and an additional $67 500 provided through a component II
allocation under the ''Delivering Community Services in Partnership
Policy''.
(3) I am aware
of current drug trends and a recent increase in drug-related harms in the south
west. The point I want to clarify is that the increase is particularly related
to amphetamines, which is what most of the media coverage has been about
recently, and an increase in harm rather than an increase in usage. Since 1998,
the actual usage of amphetamines has been declining in Western Australia and
Australia. However, the increase in harm is evidenced by more people going to
emergency departments, more people being hospitalised and more people seeking
treatment. The reason that the harm is so much greater, while the usage has
been declining, is the potency of the amphetamines. Samples from recent times
have shown the highest purity levels that we have ever seen. The form in which
it is being taken is also a factor. An increased number of people are smoking
in this area, and because methylamphetamine has a higher level of purity,
people smoke it and get a higher level of purity straightaway. Those who take
the drug are also taking it more frequently. The increase in presentations for
treatment et cetera is not because more people are using amphetamines, but
because those who are using it are using it differently and the harm from that
is becoming more evident.
Wait times can vary over the year
and are approximate dependent on client circumstances, whether the client needs
withdrawal management and whether a bed becomes available. Currently, waiting
times for two of the residential rehabilitation facilities in the south
metropolitan area that are closest to people in the south west vary from one to
four weeks. I am aware that that time depends on whether a male or a female is
seeking admission et cetera. I am also aware that a private unit has recently
opened in the south west.
(4) The need
for a new alcohol and other drug residential treatment and rehabilitation
service in the south west has been highlighted through the work to develop the ''Western
Australia Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–25''.
Hon
Adele Farina : But when will
we get one?
Hon
HELEN MORTON : I am on the
record talking about that with the ABC.
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