Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jan 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Emmanuel Stamatiou
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

NEXT STEP RUNS DETOX CENTRE

The Soapbox by Noel Smith (Drug treatment that works, 24/12) was factually 
misleading. The opening sentence refers to "the Government's push to 
establish a detox centre".

There is already a detoxification centre in Moore Street, East Perth, 
managed by Next Step.

Within months of coming to office the Government set up a community drug 
summit and all but one of the 45 recommendations were accepted for 
immediate action.

The drug summit recognised the need to establish a youth detoxification and 
respite centre. The tender for this service, with an annual budget of 
$750,000, was awarded to Mission Australia and it will be operational in 
February or March.

The drug summit also recognised the value of home-based detoxification and 
withdrawal programs. In response to the summit recommendations, $300,000 
has been provided for the expansion of home-based withdrawal services for 
the Perth metropolitan area. The service is operated by St John of God 
Health Services, which has contributed $150,000 in the current financial year.

The article also refers to minimal government support for George O'Neil's 
program. However, the contribution provided through the recently formed 
Drug and Alcohol Office is far from minimal. In fact, at $1 million a year, 
the amount made available to operate the program is significant, as are the 
allocations to a number of drug and alcohol-related services and programs. 
There is a total of $51 million a year provided for these services and 
other statewide drug initiatives.

In addition, in response to the drug summit recommendations, a further $5 
million was provided over 18 months for the alcohol and drug sector. Half 
of this amount is being spent on direct drug and alcohol services.

There is also a commitment to continue moving towards treating drug 
addiction as a health, rather than a criminal, issue.

EMMANUEL STAMATIOU, acting executive director, Drug and Alcohol Office, Mt 
Lawley.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager