Victoria to launch rehab spend
The Victorian Government is spending $81 million on an extra 30 drug rehabilitation beds.
The State Government will also spend $10 million buying land to build three new residential treatment centres with a total of 60 beds in the Gippsland, Hume and Barwon regions.
Premier Daniel Andrews said Victoria would increase the amount of publicly-funded drug rehab beds from 250 to 340.
“So many people are in the clutches of this poison. It's destroying lives, it's wrecking families,” he said.
“These investments will mean more beds for treatment, more staff to provide counselling and important support to those who are dealing with ice.”
The funding also includes money to help people at risk of overdosing.
Publicly-funded rehabilitation beds have waiting lists measured in months or even years, forcing many to seek expensive and unregulated private clinics.
Additionally, plans for more private centres in Geelong and Shepparton have been knocked back due to staunch public opposition.
Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said people should be more willing to support drug rehab clinics in their neighbourhood.
“Frankly what we can't do is have ill-advised community opposition to what are community facilities,” he said.
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association chief executive Sam Biondo welcomed the extra funding.
“Any increase is better than nothing,” he told the ABC.
“Beds aren't everything. It's a solution for some but not necessarily for others.”
Last year, 257 people died of an illicit drug overdose in Victoria.