Reforming our alcohol and drug sector
12 November, 2020
Jeremy Rockliff MP
Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing
2020-21 Budget: Reforming our alcohol and drug sector
The 2020-21 Budget is set to create jobs, bolster confidence and invest in our community which includes ensuring all Tasmanians can get the health care they need, when they need it.
That’s why the Budget includes $4.9 million to commence the 10-year Reform Agenda for the Alcohol and other Drugs Sector in Tasmania, released today, to build a more integrated and coordinated sector in the state.
We are prioritising funding that builds on existing investments into alcohol and other drug services, as well as new approaches that can better respond and treat the needs of Tasmanians.
COVID-19 has presented challenges like no other creating uncertainty and anxiety in the community, and we know that alcohol and other drug services are seeing an increase in demand.
The funding includes trialling a Detox@Home program in the south initially, to complement the existing medically supervised Inpatient Withdrawal Management Unit (IPWU).
This program will provide supervised withdrawal management support services for people in their home and will operate as a ‘virtual unit’ of IPWU.
The Drug and Alcohol ED Brief Intervention Team will work closely with Alcohol and Drug Services to help hospital emergency department staff with people under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.
An additional 10 positions for the Government’s Alcohol and Drug Service are also included in the funding to boost Tasmania’s clinical workforce.
We have also provided financial support through the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council for a project officer to support consumer representation across Tasmania in 2021-22 to further develop an alcohol and drug consumer representative network.
The task now will be to develop an implementation plan that prioritises the projects and programs supported through this year’s budget, providing the sector with a plan for the immediate future.
The Reform Agenda for the Alcohol and other Drugs Sector in Tasmania can be found at: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/alcohol_and_drug/reform_agenda_for_ads