Alcohol and drug services call for backup
Alcohol and drug support services want the federal government to keep health measures introduced during the coronavirus lockdown.
Advocates also want the government to lay out a national plan for helping Australians with drug and alcohol problems.
Odyssey House Victoria chief executive Stefan Gruenert pointed to pandemic-induced changes to telehealth and methadone treatment as two examples.
"Not only do we want to make them permanent, we want to improve and expand on them," Dr Gruenert said.
The 28 alcohol and drug treatment organisations want government to beef up services in regional Australia, as well as collect more data.
More access to subsidised telehealth services reduced wait times at GP clinics, while giving pharmacotherapy patients more doses to take home had helped them avoid catching coronavirus in public.
Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies chief executive Larry Pierce said the sector was starved of support in rural and regional areas.
"Services just aren't available or waiting lists are too long," he said.
Mr Pierce said every dollar the government pumped into drug and alcohol services saved $7 in health and justice costs.
The organisations also want the government to help train a bigger workforce.
