Drug rehab programs in SA could close within three months without new funding

An “unprecedented surge in demand” for drug and alcohol services during the pandemic has prompted a funding plea from SA advocates.

South Australia is facing an unprecedented surge in demand for drug and alcohol services as a result of the pandemic, advocates say, prompting a plea for extra federal funding.

SA Network of Drug and Alcohol Service chief executive Michael White said the federal government’s commitment to hand out $315m in national funding over the next four years was not enough.

“The alcohol and other drugs sector, which has historically faced issues with under-resourcing and workforce capacity issues, is facing an unprecedented surge in demand for its services as a result of the pandemic,” Mr White said.

“Most services were working at full capacity before the additional challenges of increased demand, reduced capacity and workforce challenges experienced over the past two years.”

South Australia’s drug treatment programs face closure.

Multiple services risked closure if the national funding was not reallocated in the upcoming budget.

Health Minister Greg Hunt last week announced the $315m for the National Ice Action Strategy was alongside an additional $27.9m being committed to support other drug and alcohol treatment projects in “areas of identified need”.

Mr White called on the federal government to establish and implement a National Alcohol and Other Drugs Governance Structure to ensure effective oversight for a “policy, planning, and strategy” to reduce the impact of alcohol and other drug related harm on communities.

“As organisations that represent the nation’s alcohol and other drugs sector, we call on the federal government to commit additional funding in the March federal budget sufficient to tackle the acute underfunding of alcohol and other drug services across the country,” Mr White said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says the government has provided around $450 million to ice addiction programs. Picture: Alan Barber

“Methamphetamine or ice, it’s not as if it’s just disappeared, and obviously folk in rural parts of the state don’t really have the same access to services that we have in Adelaide,” the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council SA’s chief executive Scott Wilson, said.