Federal budget to include $343m boost for battle against drugs

A crucial program that deals with methamphetamine-related harm has been guaranteed a future after a huge boost to drug support services.

A federal battle plan to tackle the scourge of ice and other drugs will receive a $343m boost, locking in the future of critical treatment and support services nationwide.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal this month’s federal budget will extend the national ice action strategy for another four years, after a major review found it had been a crucial innovation to deal with methamphetamine-related harm.

The cash will maintain and extend treatment and support programs for high-risk population groups, including those living in rural and regional areas and First Nations communities.

Drug support services had been urging the government to guarantee funding for the strategy, warning the lack of certainty was making it harder to hire and retain staff, especially as the pandemic placed further strain on the sector.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, who will unveil the new funding package on Sunday, said: “For too many Australians, ice is still an insidious scourge on our community, robbing families of their loved ones.”

The latest coronial data shows 111 Victorians died of a methamphetamine overdose in 2020, up from 93 in 2017 but down from a peak of 120 in 2016, the year after the strategy was launched.

The federal budget will include $343m to fight the scourge of illicit drugs.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s national wastewater drug monitoring program last week revealed methamphetamine use had fallen by 21 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

“I’m proud that the Morrison government will extend the national ice action strategy for a further four years, allowing organisations across the nation to continue delivering innovative, community-based solutions to curb use of ice and methamphetamines,” Mr Hunt said.

“The Morrison government is committed to building safe and healthy communities, reducing the impacts and harms of drug and alcohol use for individuals, their families and their communities.”

The funding will support and enhance drug action teams tasked with providing local solutions to drug and alcohol addiction issues, a screening test used to detect and manage substance abuse, and a national clinical research centre on emerging drugs of concern.

It will also bolster two web portals providing evidence-based resources on alcohol and drugs for teachers, parents and students.

A review of the strategy, released last year, identified “persuasive evidence of an ongoing need” and said it had made “a significant contribution towards the broader goals of reducing drug and alcohol supply, demand and related harms”.

This month’s budget will show the commonwealth will invest a total of $830m on alcohol and drug treatment services and related programs over the next four years.

Originally published as Federal budget to include $343m boost for battle against drugs