A DRUG and alcohol treatment program is reaching out to a growing number of middle-aged Moorabool residents hooked on drugs and alcohol.
Since the Stepping Up consortium began serving Bacchus Marsh nearly two years ago, demand has increased 30per cent.
Volunteer Shelley Cross says there’s an increasing number of chronic users of alcohol and cannabis over the age of 40.
While increasing demand could partly be attributed to population growth, Ms Cross said most users seeking treatment and counselling were middle-aged.
She said that if the level of demand continued, a permanent counsellor working three days a week would be needed.
“Stepping Up began treating addicts once a day. Now we’re coming through two days a week,” Ms Cross said.
“Initially, we were helping one or two people per visit. Now it’s something like five or six people.
“While there’s been an influx of young families in the Bacchus Marsh area, there are a great many people over the age of 40 who have problems with substance abuse and long-term unemployment.”
Details: stepping-up.org.au
