Rehab beds deliver on State election promise

Drug & alcohol rehabilitation services set to be boosted in the Limestone Coast later this year

The South Australian Government is delivering on an election promise to the Limestone Coast – in fact they are over delivering.

A commitment to four residential rehabilitation beds on the Limestone Coast for South Australians in need of drug and alcohol treatment and support is set to be met, with two additional beds part of last week’s announcement.

The January 2022 election promise was welcomed at the time by Substance Misuse Limestone Coast project officer Sophie Bourchier who welcomed the anticipated investment, saying the region was facing a shortage of alcohol and other drug (AOD) services at a time when demand was rising.

“Alcohol is the most commonly used substance and the most problematic and the pandemic created a perfect storm of normalising at-home alcohol use with retail sales increased by up to 10 per cent,” Ms Bourchier said.

“It’s legal, cheap, accessible and marketed aggressively by alcohol companies. It’s normalised and encouraged across all levels of society and a rite of passage in Australian culture.”

Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell welcomed any strengthening of the region’s drug and alcohol treatment sector.

“It’s essential for Limestone Coast residents to be able to access the treatment they need close to home,” Mr Bell said. “This investment means more local people will have the 24/7 support and care they need when they require assistance overcoming the cycle of addiction.”

Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) has expanded its partnership with not-for-profit organisation Uniting Communities to provide the six new Mount Gambier rehabilitation beds, meaning they will operate all 12 beds in the region.

They will offer 24/7 support, providing clients with high-intensity treatment through a stepped model of care, allowing effective treatment for people with varying and often complex needs.

The new beds will come online in July and follow the State Government’s commitment to working in partnership with local organisations already providing effective alcohol and other drug treatment programs to the community, building on established services.

South Australian health Minister Chris Picton said the impacts of drug and alcohol addiction were devastating for families and communities.

“We want to help improve the lives of people in need of specialised drug and alcohol treatment and support in the Mount Gambier community,” Mr Picton said. “We are not only doubling the number of drug rehabilitation beds in the community but also ensuring that a full range of services are in place to deliver appropriate care to people seeking drug and alcohol treatment, and their families.”

The residential rehabilitation program will provide round the clock supervision to those who require care beyond that offered through the daytime support model offered through the existing six bed program.

It forms part of an approach to strengthen drug and alcohol support services by increasing beds and delivering therapeutic programs in the community, including more counselling support for families impacted by addiction.

DASSA state director Marina Bowshall said they were delighted to extend the partnership with Uniting Communities to provide these residential rehabilitation services to the community.

“The Mount Gambier service will provide holistic and culturally sensitive individualised treatments plans, in a program that offers structured interventions throughout the day,” she said.

While Uniting Communities chief executive Simon Schrapel was glad to be able to extend its residential drug and alcohol support services for the Limestone Coast community by delivering a specialist six bed, 24/7 and supported outreach service in Mount Gambier.

“This expansion will complement the suite of community based and residential programs already available to the community and most importantly will allow, for the first time, the delivery of an intensive supervised therapeutic residential service,” he said.

“Having this program available in the South East region will enable more residents to receive assistance and rehabilitation in their own community.”

South Australian Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said the Mount Gambier community had been calling out for increased drug and alcohol support and services to help people experiencing significant dependency.