Dr Andrew Jeyaprakesh wants more drug and alcohol treatment staff in the city as well as incentives for doctors to treat people affected by substance abuse.

He has worked in the hospital’s accident and emergency department about once a week for 21 years, seeing chronic multiple-drug users including ice and speed addicts.

As governments continue programs to combat breast and prostate cancer and diabetes, he would like authorities to introduce similar schemes that would treat drug and alcohol abuse as a disease of equal importance.

“We give so much importance to so many chronic diseases, but the government doesn’t give attention to the drug and alcohol problem which we are facing,” he said.

“There is no rehab facility for people with alcohol problems in Port Pirie. We need more rehab centres.

“There is only one drug and alcohol nurse who has to look after the whole region from Peterborough to Port Broughton.

“So many people have this problem. The government has no support for the doctors who are involved in the drug substitution program or drug and alcohol abuse treatment.

“There is no incentive for the doctors to do this.

“This is why only two doctors are doing the substitution program in Port Pirie.

“I think the government should give incentives to general practitioners as in the form of breast and prostate cancer and diabetes programs. It is destroying society.”