THE Victorian government will tackle the state’s ice epidemic through a $34 million commitment to provide drug and alcohol support services.
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The money, included in next week’s Victorian budget, will be spread over four years, targeting four health regions and taking in the North East.
Submissions received at a state inquiry into the prevalence of ice in regional and metropolitan Victoria provided overwhelming evidence of the rapid spread of ice addiction and its impact on communities such as ours.
Ice is acknowledged as affecting not only the users but also their friends, families and workmates.
Police have reported increased crime rates related to the use of ice by those seeking to fund their habits, while there has also been a reported increase in the number of ambulance callouts and hospital admissions related to the use of the drug.
The $34 million committed by the Napthine government will provide support services for an additional 2000 people a year in response to the growing use of ice and similar drugs.
Hopefully the program will help counter or at least stall the effects of a drug that is having such an insidious impact.