THE Victorian Government says the need for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services is particularly evident in north-west of the state.
But it stopped short last week of committing to fund a 30-bed residential drug and alcohol rehab service in Mildura to address what Member for Mildura Ali Cupper described as a “glaring gap” in services in the far north-west.
Health Minister Martin Foley this week acknowledged that the need for a range of rehabilitation services for alcohol and drugs in regional Victoria was “very, very significant, particularly in our north-west part of the state”.
Despite falling short on giving Ms Cupper a commitment on the Mildura rehab service, Mr Foley said he would work with her on “any significant issues”.
“We look forward to working with her on that matter and particularly delivering and improving bed-based services, community services and the wraparound whole-of-life services that are so important in alcohol and other drugs support,” Mr Foley said.
Ms Cupper said Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy recommended that a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre be built in the Mallee.
“The report outlined that the rate of drug-related deaths in rural and regional Victoria has increased every year since 2012,” Ms Cupper said.
“Other research found that Mildura and Bendigo have roughly the same number of people addicted to drugs and alcohol, but Mildura has less than half the population. We are isolated.
“Our nearest rehab centre is more than four hours away, with limited public transport.
“Mothers who need treatment will refuse it because of the long separation from their kids, and this entrenches the problem and increases the chance of their drug problem becoming intergenerational.”
Mr Foley said the government was well past the mark of doubling the 208 residential rehabilitation beds in the state when it was elected in 2014 to 492 by the end of this year.
“The majority of those new beds, I am pleased to say, have been in regional and rural Victoria,” he said.
“I have asked my department to begin the process of therefore forward-assessing as to where the next range of demands will be in this important space — for instance, not just issues in regional and rural Victoria, as the honourable member has pointed out; there are also significant issues in metropolitan Melbourne.
“I look forward to working with the honourable member for Mildura to address any significant issues.”
