QLD spends big on anti-ice
The Queensland Government has unveiled $6 million worth of new community health programs aimed at tackling ice addiction.
The funds will pay for extra services for users and families in Cooktown, Rockhampton, Charleville, Cunnamulla and the Gold Coast.
The scheme will also see the introduction of new drug and alcohol intervention teams at Logan and Townsville hospitals.
Health Minister Cameron Dick said the Government was hoping its state-wide discussion paper would foster an even greater community response.
“We need a strong law enforcement response to ice, but we can't arrest our way out of this problem - that's a significant issue - we can't just do it in the law enforcement,” he said.
“We've got to be involved in early intervention and prevention which these initiatives support and then work with the broader community to address what is a community problem.
“Ice is a community problem that needs a community response and we want to work with Queenslanders - in particular we are looking for people in the alcohol and drugs sector - people who work in that sector every day, to get their view on what we should be doing.
Addiction psychiatrist Dr Mark Daglish told ABC reporters that having drug and alcohol intervention teams was a common approach in other countries.
“We borrowed this model in particular from the UK, but it's also been shown in other places in the world to start to reduce the number of times or the severity of presentations to emergency departments by people who are affected by alcohol and other drugs,” he said.
“You can deliver small interventions to a large number of people in a relatively easy manner.
“They're usually based around cutting down [drug use], using [drugs] in a less dangerous manner, or getting into treatment early - in what we call secondary prevention.”
Murweh Shire Mayor Denis Cook said it would bring vital assistance to small towns, where many to not expect ice can be such a problem.
“[Ice] is a growing problem in our town in our area - it definitely is,” he said.
“In a small town people come up to you and say; ‘Oh gee, there’s a big load of ice coming in this week - it's going to be terrible’.
“It's really a shame - we're a nice little country town and it's actually here.
“No-one wants it, but we've just got to try and get rid of it.
“We've got a fair bit of unemployment among the youth and not much to do and they say they get bored and they move on to these things.”
The Murweh Shire Council and neighbouring councils have worked with Queensland Health for several months to address the issue.
They set up a youth council, organised activities during the school holidays, and are now awaiting their new rehabilitation services.