Meth support group welcomes funds but says it’s not enough

Rockingham’s local leading drug and alcohol service, Palmerston Association, has welcomed last week’s State Budget efforts to tackle meth in the community but argues that the demand for support outweighs the funding allocation.

An additional 52 dedicated rehabilitation beds will be established after the State Government pledged $14.9 million to reduce the demand for meth, with more than $3 million to provide more frontline drug support nurses in emergency departments.

Just over $500,000 will also be put towards a pilot specialist methamphetamine clinic to provide rapid assessment, early intervention and treatment, including outpatient withdrawal.

Palmerston Association chief executive Sheila McHale acknowledged the funding for additional beds and community support but said the sad reality was each year the demand for services increased.

“This year alone we have seen a further 12 per cent increase in the number of clients seeking our help,” she said.

“The demand for drug and alcohol support in the Rockingham area is much greater than any new funding can address.

“We understand that the Budget will provide one new full-time position but it may be shared across our three sites in Fremantle, Rockingham and Mandurah.”

Service manager Bram Dickens said that Palmerston had anywhere between 30 and 50 people waiting for the Rockingham service at any one time.

“Whilst we regularly blitz the waitlist with extra effort, as soon as it goes down, it quickly heads upwards again with the demand,” he said.

As a leading provider of residential services, Palmerston believes the Government’s commitment to 52 new residential places is welcome news for those who need intensive and long-term residential care.

Ms McHale said this was particularly relevant for seriously addicted meth users.

“Amphetamine or meth is a problem for nearly one third of our clients, up 4 per cent on last year’s figures,” she said.

“Overall though, the Budget falls short of what the community needs in order to address the desperate plight of many families in this region struggling to come to terms with drug and alcohol use.”