Page 1161 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 4 May 2022
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Within this area, a wide variety of services are delivered. The alcohol and drug services provide specialist medical services; consultation and liaison, opioid medication, or pharmacotherapy, treatment; withdrawal or detoxification; Drug Court services; counselling; and police and court drug diversion services. These services are provided as inpatient and outpatient services. The mental health services deliver a range of inpatient and outpatient services, including assessment and liaison, assertive community outreach, day programs and inpatient and residential care. In addition, the Health Directorate provides funding to a range of non-government organisations that provide a range of services across the mental health and alcohol and other drugs sectors.
Services supporting people with alcohol and other drug use issues include counselling, case management, residential and non-residential withdrawal programs, rehabilitation, and needle and syringe distribution services, as well as intensive treatment through residential programs and day programs.
Case management is a frequently used model of alcohol and other drug treatment support, and is a more structured type of holistic approach, taking into account all client needs, including general welfare needs, and includes assessment, planning, linking, monitoring and advocacy.
Rehabilitation focuses on supporting clients in stopping their drug use and also preventing psychological, legal, financial, social and physical consequences of problematic drug use. However, specialist alcohol and other drug treatment services provide not only alcohol and other drug treatment to individuals but also support services to their families, their carers and friends. This includes information and education, counselling and other supports.
Examples in the ACT include the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy, which carry out overdose response training for consumers and their families and develop suitable information materials for people who use drugs. The Karralika Family Program provides alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation services for men, women and couples with accompanying children up to the age of 12. The program provides comprehensive care that is focused on the individual to address underlying reasons for alcohol and drug dependence. Key components of the program include parenting education, family counselling and supported playgroups, with a focus on working with the whole family, including children, using a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach.
The Health Directorate also provides funding to NGOs to provide a range of mental health supports, including psychological therapy, counselling, residential-based programs, and community access supports to individuals with mental illness and their families and carers.
While I have described a range of services for both alcohol and other drug and mental health, I am pleased to say that MHJHADS, the Health Directorate and community NGOs are also working closely together to deliver and promote greater connection and coordination of supports. In addition, there are a number of services that provide
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