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Media Release, VAADA: Ice treatment – a balanced response from government

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 5 March 2015

The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) today welcomes the release of the Ice Action Plan which provides a balanced response to a highly complex and challenging problem.

The Ice Action Plan details a number of priorities with allocations attached to those priorities.

Mr Sam Biondo, Executive Officer of VAADA, says, ‘the Ice Action Plan provides a coherent and balanced response to what has become a very complex problem in the Victorian community. The priorities and subsequent allocations are reasonable and balanced and should make some headway into addressing the serious methamphetamine related harms occurring in Victoria’.

The Ice Action Plan details a number of priorities providing additional resourcing to support families, additional training for frontline workers, additional resourcing to the AOD treatment sector, both with treatment and needle and syringe programs, as well as activity around prevention and additional resourcing for grass-root community activity and to drug and booze buses.

Mr Biondo continues, ‘The Ice Action Plan provides for an additional $18M to the AOD treatment sector, which has been chronically underfunded for many years. This allocation, with a rural and regional focus, is most welcome. Additional allocations of $1.8M to needle and syringe programs is also a welcome investment, as it occurs within a context where, nationally, there has been a gradual reduction in resourcing to these key services which prevent the spread of harmful blood borne viruses.’

The Ice Action Plan provides $4.7M to assist families through a range of means, including a specific ‘Ice Help Line’ and $1M to assist frontline workers, which crucially consists of $600,000 to support AOD and mental health workers through enhanced clinical supervision.

‘VAADA will continue to work with the government, our members and a range of other stakeholders in addressing these issues. The Ice Action Plan provides the foundations for the achievement of some significant gains for Victoria and I look forward to further future actions and developments in this area.’

VAADA is the peak body that represents over 80 Alcohol and other Drug services across Victoria. On a daily basis these services are dealing with the effects of harmful alcohol and other drug consumption.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Sam Biondo on 0414 974 121 for comment.