Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveals lack of drug treatment services in South Australia

THERE are just 70 public drug and alcohol treatment services to help thousands of addicts across the state and many are only able assess patients, not offer treatment.

• Sheradyn Holderhead: Ice epidemic worst in Adelaide, so where’s the help?

THERE are just 70 public drug and alcohol services across the state to help thousands of addicts – and many don’t offer treatment.

At a time when drug use is spiking in South Australia the number of government-funded services has fallen from a peak of 94 in 2013-14.

A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released today, shows the most common drug type that users seek treatment for is amphetamines, including meth or ice, and use is on the rise.

The report shows:

ALCOHOL is the second-most pervasive drug, but misuse is declining.

MORE than 8400 South Australians sought help for addiction last financial year.

ABOUT two-thirds were men and about half were aged in their 20s and 30s.

ALMOST 16 per cent were aged 10 to 19.

OF THE 70 services operating in SA, about 40 per cent can only assess addicts and do not offer treatment.

SA Network of Drug and Alcohol Services Michael White executive officer has previously warned that about 40 per cent of people who want treatment in SA are unable to access it.

Child protection workers have told The Advertiser that parents with alcohol or substance abuse problems, who have had children removed, are unable to gain entry to live-in treatment facilities to beat their addiction and get their children back.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the Government would pilot a drug rehabilitation program in the Riverland and put legislation to Parliament to enable the mandatory treatment of addicted teenagers.

“South Australia is experiencing a disturbingly high level of abuse of methamphetamine and we hope to secure a larger share of the federal funding available under the National Ice Strategy,” Mr Wade said.

The Federal Government announced a $30 million strategy in 2015, including $244 million devoted to local treatment services.

SA was only promised $15.5 million for drug treatment – $1.5 million less than the state’s population share demands.

Latest analysis of waste water showed the amount of methylamphetamine used in regional SA doubled between August and December, and Adelaide remains the country’s ice capital.

Opposition Health and Wellbeing spokesman Chris Picton the former Labor Government invested $3.6 million to increase access to drug treatment services. This included counselling sessions and 18 new rehabilitation beds in the Riverland, Whyalla and Mount Gambier, he said