The state government has unveiled details of a $14.9 million boost in funding for the Mental Health Commission in Thursday’s state budget, aimed at tackling ice addition.
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An extra 52 dedicated rehabilitation beds and eight low-medical withdrawal beds will be created across the state for people addicted to meth.
Additional drug support nurses and free counselling services will also be part of the package.
Mental Health Minister Andrea Mitchell said the new beds added to 356 residential rehabilitation beds already available for people with alcohol and other drug addictions.
“Families are crying out for more help to get their loved ones off this drug and this funding will provide extra residential rehabilitation and withdrawal services,” she said.
The new money to fight meth addition includes:
- $9.8 million for an extra 60 beds dedicated to methamphetamine users – eight low-medical withdrawal and 52 rehabilitation beds – and expanded community-based prevention and treatment services;
- $2.29 million for more frontline drug support nurses in emergency departments;
- $533,000 towards a pilot specialist methamphetamine clinic to provide rapid assessment, early intervention and treatment, including outpatient withdrawal, within the Next Step Drug and Alcohol Service in East Perth;
- $1.65 million to expand prevention initiatives; and
- $304,000 for a dedicated WA Ice Helpline providing free counselling and referral services.
Police minister Liza Harvey said WA Police had experienced a 40.8 per cent increase in amphetamine-type stimulant arrests between 2013-15, and disrupting the supply of the drug was a key priority for the government.
“WA Police have already put in place the WA Police Meth Enforcement Action Plan, which fits under the Government's broader WA Meth Strategy,” she said.
“This involves having dedicated meth teams to target dealers and conduct searches of trucks and vehicles, new laws to target those who set up clandestine labs, increased roadside drug testing, and seizing cash profits from meth sales.
“The extra $5.5 million in the State Budget to boost roadside testing puts meth users on notice that they will be caught if they get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs.”
The Department of Corrective Services will also spend more than $11.6 million over the next two years on a range of drug and alcohol intervention and treatment services to help rehabilitate the high number of prisoners with meth and other drug addictions.
A spokesperson for Ms Mitchell said some of the new beds would be in regional areas, but the Mental Health Commission was assessing areas of greatest need.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
