poledriver
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2005
- Messages
- 11,543
Aus - Agencies call for rehab solution to drug dilemma
Why doesn't a region the size of Gippsland have a dedicated rehabilitation centre for drug addicts?
0
It's a question which police struggle to answer as they tackle a 23 per cent increase in drug-related criminal offences in the Latrobe Valley.
"We need the support services down here. The fact that a rehab centre is in Dandenong, an hour and a half away, is not helpful," Morwell Leading Senior Constable, Brett Godden says.
Health agencies like Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) which runs the main drug and alcohol counselling program in the Latrobe Valley, don't have the answers either.
Anne Hampden, the manager of drug treatment services at LCHS says a rehab centre offering ongoing support for people who want to beat their drug addiction is vital.
"LCHS has been investigating a few options... we're certainly thinking about it, investigating and looking at some options," she says.
"It would be fantastic and I think we'd have a high rate of success."
Ms Hampden says the number of people seeking help from her program for an addiction to the methamphetamine 'ice' has risen by 50 per cent.
"People are able to set up laboratories in their laundry, in their cars and actually have a quick turnover. This is what we've been told, it's not that hard to make," she says.
The potency of the drug has presented new challenges to counsellors who have been used to dealing with clients addicted to opiates like heroin. Ice triggers much more aggressive behaviour.
Ms Hampden says this could be why Gippslanders may be noticing more drug-affected people on the streets.
Police also acknowledge the prevalence of ice in addition to other drugs on the streets of the Latrobe Valley.
"I honestly don't know what the answer is," Ldg Snr Const Brett Godden says.
"It's not a legal issue, it's not a community issue, it's not a health issue, it's all of those together and I think we have to all work together."
The chair of the National Rural Health Alliance, Professor Lesley Barclay agrees.
"Rural issues are different. If you've got a small community that decides to take action, you can take action. It's harder in a big city. There's less sense of community... less sense of community leadership," she says.
"If people get behind something and you've got good leadership and people are supportive they can make massive changes."
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/05/31/3771862.htm?site=gippsland
Why doesn't a region the size of Gippsland have a dedicated rehabilitation centre for drug addicts?
0
It's a question which police struggle to answer as they tackle a 23 per cent increase in drug-related criminal offences in the Latrobe Valley.
"We need the support services down here. The fact that a rehab centre is in Dandenong, an hour and a half away, is not helpful," Morwell Leading Senior Constable, Brett Godden says.
Health agencies like Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) which runs the main drug and alcohol counselling program in the Latrobe Valley, don't have the answers either.
Anne Hampden, the manager of drug treatment services at LCHS says a rehab centre offering ongoing support for people who want to beat their drug addiction is vital.
"LCHS has been investigating a few options... we're certainly thinking about it, investigating and looking at some options," she says.
"It would be fantastic and I think we'd have a high rate of success."
Ms Hampden says the number of people seeking help from her program for an addiction to the methamphetamine 'ice' has risen by 50 per cent.
"People are able to set up laboratories in their laundry, in their cars and actually have a quick turnover. This is what we've been told, it's not that hard to make," she says.
The potency of the drug has presented new challenges to counsellors who have been used to dealing with clients addicted to opiates like heroin. Ice triggers much more aggressive behaviour.
Ms Hampden says this could be why Gippslanders may be noticing more drug-affected people on the streets.
Police also acknowledge the prevalence of ice in addition to other drugs on the streets of the Latrobe Valley.
"I honestly don't know what the answer is," Ldg Snr Const Brett Godden says.
"It's not a legal issue, it's not a community issue, it's not a health issue, it's all of those together and I think we have to all work together."
The chair of the National Rural Health Alliance, Professor Lesley Barclay agrees.
"Rural issues are different. If you've got a small community that decides to take action, you can take action. It's harder in a big city. There's less sense of community... less sense of community leadership," she says.
"If people get behind something and you've got good leadership and people are supportive they can make massive changes."
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/05/31/3771862.htm?site=gippsland
