15/8/02
The State Government has marked the first anniversary of the Community Drug Summit with the release of its new Drug and Alcohol Strategy.
Health Minister Bob Kucera said today the strategy was in line with the Government's principal of 'Putting People First', and approached drug-related problems as a social and health issue, rather than simply a criminal one.
"This Government's decision to put people first means that people's lives - not political ideology - will form the heart of our response to the drug problem," Mr Kucera said.
"It is also clear that agencies acting in isolation results in a duplication of services and conflicting aims and objectives.
"Therefore, the strategy identifies a framework which will allow services to work in a co-ordinated way, with common aims and objectives.
"This will be a whole-of-Government approach - not just an initiative of the health portfolio."
Mr Kucera said the strategy provided direction for the combined efforts of the community, Government and non-Government organisations.
The priorities for action are prevention and early intervention; support and treatment; and law, justice and enforcement.
The Community Drug Summit, held last year from August 13 to 17, identified the needs of a number of groups in the community who required targeted attention.
These groups are:
- children and young people;
- families;
- indigenous people and communities;
- people from regional, rural and remote communities; and
- people with co-existing mental health and drug use problems.
The Minister said the Drug and Alcohol Strategy provided the basis for the development of various action plans for local communities, Government agencies and in response to specific drugs.
The new Drug and Alcohol Office, in partnership with key stakeholders, will facilitate development of the plans.
This comprehensive planning process is currently under way, with reports to State Cabinet anticipated by the end of the year.
As a result of the Community Drug Summit, the Government has already allocated an additional $5million per annum for drug and alcohol initiatives, some of which will be directed to implementing the strategy with a focus on the identified priority areas.
Mr Kucera said while the Drug and Alcohol Strategy identified the way forward, the Government had already acted on a range of important recommendations flowing from the Community Drug Summit, including:
- the creation of WA's first youth detoxification and respite centre. The Government has allocated $750,000 to the annual running costs of the centre;
- an extension of the Youth Supported Accommodation Assistance Program;
- $450,000 a year for culturally secure withdrawal and rehabilitation for Aboriginal people;
- more specialist alcohol and drug education project for Aboriginal people;
- $210,000 to help GPs better respond to drug and alcohol problems; and
- the introduction of stronger penalties for the personal use of cannabis coupled with greater opportunities for the education of offenders.
The new Drug and Alcohol Strategy can be accessed at
http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au Minister's office: 9213 7009
