Incorporating Comorbidity E-News
Greens: Auditor-General's report calls for Drug & Alcohol Prevention Strategy - Hartland
"The Auditor-General's report 'Managing Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment Services'* released today demonstrates the scale of the alcohol and drug problem in this state," said Greens MLC Colleen Hartland.
"The number one recommendation in this report is to create a
whole-of-government alcohol and other drug prevention strategy."
"Victoria needs a statewide prevention strategy, less waiting time for people accessing services and better access to services for people in rural and regional communities."
"This report estimates that alcohol and drugs are costing the community $14 billion per year. This includes the costs of healthcare, crime, road,
accidents and injuries, decreased economic participation and lost
productivity."
"We also need to provide equal access to these services. Many people need to travel to access to recovery services. We need to make it possible for people to get treatment earlier and have services that are local. "
"There are a greater number of people carrying drug and alcohol problems into their older adulthood, and waiting times are a barrier to the success of treatment.”.
"We should be doing as much as we can to prevent drug and alcohol problems, and where they exist we need to minimise the harm as soon as possible,"
said Ms Hartland
