Drug and alcohol treatment services and the fight against the use of illicit drugs, including ‘ice’, will be allocated $34 million in the state budget.
Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge said the funding would support services for more than 2000 extra people a year across the state in response to a growing use of ice and other drugs. The money will go to both community drug and alcohol services.
“Ice is a dangerous drug that can destroy relationships, health and lives,” Ms Wooldridge said.
Youth worker Les Twentyman said an ice epidemic was a massive problem for Melbourne’s west.
Mr Twentyman last year called on the state government to get proactive on drugs after a surge in unprovoked ice-fuelled attacks on members of the community, including community care workers, police, ambulance personnel and youth workers.
“We have significant problems over here. We have very high youth unemployment which brings about the issues of drugs and gangs,”
Mr Twentyman said. “The other problem is that [ice] dealers are very violent criminals … some kids start off just thinking they can kick it at any time, when all of a sudden they are in a culture where they have to sell it … and if they don’t sell, they’re going to get shot.
“I think [the solution] is twofold. One is treatment; the other is outreach workers to engage with these kids.”
