On Wednesday, the federal government announced new funding for service providers to focus on early intervention and treatment of drug and alcohol misuse across the state. 

The new funding is set to rollout as early as next month as part of the federal government's $298 million National Ice Action Strategy.

The $5 million, which was received by Primary Health Tasmania, will be delivered through Anglicare Tasmania, the South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation, and Youth, Family and Community Connections in the North-West.  

Primary Health Tasmania general manager Mark Broxton said the work would not only be undertaken in the state’s urban areas, but in rural and regional communities as well.

“We need to build capacity in community and we need to make sure the services that are required, are there,” Mr Broxton said. 

“We should be able to support another 400 Tasmanians a year with this money, and that will hopefully provide up to thousands of sessions of care each year.” 

Youth, Family and Community Connections chief executive Ros Atkinson said the extra funding would help to support the organisation’s services and employees. 

“Those services will be focused on early intervention, treatment, and preventing relapse,” Ms Atkinson said.

“This funding is providing us with an excellent opportunity to be able to extend services that we’re already providing … and to be able to provide additional support to our workers on the ground.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to strengthen our partnerships in the regions and we’ll be working very closely with Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation.” 

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said people's lives were being torn apart by drug and alcohol misuse.

“This also has a devastating impact on the families and loved ones of those affected and communities,” Senator Abetz said.

“These new services will help reduce the current waiting times for treatment and help address the gaps in existing services.” 

The new funding will run until June 2019, with much of it to be spent on addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.