The Liberal Government takes the issue of drug use extremely seriously.
Drug use is a concern to all Tasmanians, no matter where they live, although there is no doubt there is a particular focus on methamphetamine, or ice, in the North West at the moment.
Rather than sit on our hands and do nothing, as Labor and the Greens did, we have taken action and ordered a review into drug use in the North West, to assess the level of the problem and whether services match the need.
While the review is ongoing, a range of options are currently being considered, including;
• Immediate up-skilling of frontline service providers;
• Establishment of an interagency working group – consisting of police, health, education and the community sector – to monitor and report on the issue to Government;
• And a review of service configuration and delivery in Tasmania, including access to residential rehabilitation beds.
Greater detail is being provided in an initial report from Alcohol and Drug Services available on the DHHS website.1
The early advice provided to Government does not support reports of a significant increase in the use of ice in the North West. What it does show is drug use in general has increased in the North West over the last decade – including alcohol, prescription drugs and cannabis.
It is clear that methamphetamine use must be considered in the context of broader drug and alcohol issues and service delivery gaps.
Following community consultation on this issue, including tomorrow’s forum at Smithon, a final report, including recommendations, will be handed to Government by mid-November which we will then respond to.
1 The report can be found at http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/alcohol_and_drug/publications
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health
