The government has responded to a report highlighting statewide gaps and underfunding of alcohol and drugs services in Tasmania with $9.5 million for beds and community-based support.
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The move was prompted by a independent review of the sector last year.
Consultants Siggins Miller found there was a $5.8 million shortfall in expenditure across the sector each year.
It said with $1.7 million in federal funding not being modeled by Drug and Alcohol Service Planning, there might even be suggested a greater shortfall across all methods of treatment.
The report said up to 6500 different individuals received treatment for drug and alcohol issues, with more than 61,000 occasions of treatment, each year.
It estimated that more than 31,000 people would experience a substance abuse issue each year, of which 12,767 will need some form of treatment.
Based on service provider feedback, the report found there was also a shortage of residential rehabilitation beds, lacking co-ordinated admission processes, and lacking services for youth and women with children.
The consultants noted problems with lengthy wait times for residential rehabilitation beds and distance from services for people in the North and North-West.
It said there were 23 inpatient and detoxification beds required, compared to the 10 available in the state’s south, and 125 residential beds, compared to 54 to 58 beds available at the time the report was written.
“These is evidence to support an increase in the capacity of residential rehabilitation services in Tasmania (and) there is evidence of potential unmet demand for residential rehabilitation services for youth in Tasmania,” the report said.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government would make available $6 million for 30 new rehabilitation beds statewide, $2.5 million for 12 new residential rehabilitation beds in the North-West over three years, and $1 million for new community-based alcohol and drug services.
Opposition health spokeswoman Sarah Lovell said the extra beds for drug and alcohol services.
“What Labor would like to see is more investment in wraparound services to help people in our communities who are struggling with addiction and other issues,”
“These are concerns shared by the sector who recognise that there is more to tackling alcohol and drug addiction than extra beds.”