A dedicated drug outreach team is desperately needed in the western suburbs, according to the chief executive of Community West.
Rachna Muddagouni said the Deer Park- based body, which offers legal services in Melton, has applied for $100,000 funding over two years from the state government.
The current closest drug outreach team is based at the Fitzroy and St Kilda legal services’ offices.
“We want to actually work with … clients in the very, very early stages of a drug-related interaction with the justice system,” Ms Muddagouni said.
“A drug outreach team will help us provide legal advice and support to clients in collaboration with advice from a social worker.
“Then we can prevent the issues escalating and [becoming] more chronic.”
Restoring relationships
Ms Muddagouni said young people didn’t necessarily understand the legal and social ramifications that could potentially arise from drug use.
She said a dedicated team would move away from a punitive approach, which did not always work, and focus on restoring the person’s relationship with their friends, family and society.
“For people who do get into trouble with the law, there’s an opportunity for them to be listened to by the team,” she said.
“Clients are given proper support; families are also supported.”
Given the cultural diversity of the western region, some families tend to feel “ashamed” about their loved one’s drug addiction.
“Families can be hush-hush about it and sometimes there’s denial associated with it,” Ms Muddagouni said. “Our drug outreach team will ensure the young people are safe and let parents know it’s not the end of the world.
“If your child gets into trouble with the police because of substance abuse, shutting them out of the community is not going to help them.”
Ms Muddagouni said Community West’s legal team had seen a significant influx in the number of people, especially youth, facing the justice system for drug abuse matters.
According to the latest Crime Statistics Agency data, drug possession-related offences jumped 120 per cent in Melton in the four years to December 31, 2014.
