Alcohol & other drugs services in Victoria

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Alcohol & other drugs services in Victoria

On 25 January the Minister for Mental Health, the Hon. Mary Wooldridge, launched the whole of government alcohol and drug strategy titled Reducing the alcohol and drug toll: Victoria's plan 2013-2017.

Many indicators of alcohol and drug related harm climbed in Victoria between 2000 and 2010. This strategy provides a new agenda to improve the way police, courts, schools, hospitals and health and community services work together to bring down the alcohol and drug toll as well as deliver better health outcomes to those affected by the harms associated with alcohol misuse and drug use.

Reducing the alcohol and drug toll sets out a 15-point plan that provides a comprehensive response to the three major drug types, alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs and illegal drugs. It also includes some key new investments, including:

$2.6 million to a long term program to challenge Victoria’s culture around drinking, reduce harms from alcohol misuse and instil personal responsibility around alcohol use, and
a four year $12.5 million program for Emergency Departments across Victoria to support clinicians dealing with alcohol and drug related hospital admissions and emergency department presentations.

The strategy, summary document and media release can be found here http://www.health.vic.gov.au/aod/strategy. Limited numbers of hard copies are also available.

The strategy is the culmination of a long process of consultation and deliberation. Thank you to all of those that participated in this process, and have followed the development of this important document.

For more information on the whole of government Victorian Alcohol and Drug Strategy.