First frontline initiatives to tackle Ice menace

The Palaszczuk Government will immediately begin the rollout of new frontline initiatives to tackle the scourge of the drug Ice in Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said five new rehabilitation, treatment and outreach services will be rolled out across the state, at Cooktown, Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Charleville and Cunnamulla.

Two new Drug and Alcohol Brief Intervention Teams will also be employed in the Emergency Departments at the Logan and Townsville Hospitals.

The Premier said the new initiatives come off the back of the Government’s discussion paper Ways to Combat Ice Addiction in Queensland, which urged immediate action.

”Ice is having a chaotic effect on many individuals, their families and communities,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“It is an absolute evil, pitting relative against relative and friend against friend, tearing families and relationships apart.

“Our Indigenous communities are especially vulnerable to substance abuse. Ice represents a significant potential risk for them.

“These new initiatives are the first tranche of the Government’s response and will put resources into frontline treatment and management of those suffering from the ice epidemic.”

Over the last five years the weight of police seizures of methamphetamine in crystal form has increased more than a 100%.

The Queensland Police Service reports the purity of ice has risen to 72% over the same period.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said strong policing responses are important but cannot be the only response if the ice epidemic is to be combatted effectively.

“These new rehab and outreach services will be locally responsive and will address the particular needs of local communities, targeting groups who are vulnerable to ice use,” Mr Dick said.

“The Drug and Alcohol Brief Intervention Teams will support the work of hard pressed Emergency Department doctors and nurses – screening all patients for potential alcohol and drug problems, provide brief intervention and possible referral to alcohol and other drugs services.

“They have proved very effective at the Gold Coast University Hospital and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.”

Mr Dick said the Ice Discussion Paper noted that “building and operating stand alone, purpose specific medical inpatient detox facilities in every location that may need them is not feasible”.

“So affordable, timely, innovative, flexible options must be explored,” he said.

The Premier said her Government is also considering ways to redirect confiscated, multi-million dollar proceeds of crime and undisclosed wealth into more rehabilitation and treatment services for Queensland.

“The National Ice Taskforce must follow our lead and consider redirecting confiscated funds at national and state levels – as the most cost effective way of helping ice addicts,” she said.

Public are asked to give the Government their ideas over the next six weeks following the release of Ways to Combat Ice Addiction in Queensland Discussion Paper.

The paper can be accessed on:

http://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/consultation/2705/view.html

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:                Andrew Fraser         0428 690 679