Councils tackle drug problem

A training program to help traders deal with drug addicts, increasing the number of drug workers on the streets and cleaning up Bourke and Russell Streets are among the measures to be taken by Melbourne’s five municipalities most-affected by the drug problem.

Health Minister John Thwaites congratulated the Cities of Yarra, Port Phillip, Maribyrnong, Melbourne and Dandenong for coming up with practical measures to prevent young people from going down the drug path and to help others get off drugs.

Mr Thwaites said the link between street prostitution and heroin abuse would be tackled by the City of Port Phillip by putting more drug workers on the streets to work specifically with sex workers, while the City of Yarra would focus on problems in public housing estates.

‘A lot of the measures are aimed at young people who are at risk of falling into the world of illicit drugs and are not likely to come in contact with mainstream health services,’ Mr Thwaites said.

The five municipalities will share in $12.5 million of the Government’s $77 million Drug Initiative to expand services and put more drug workers on the streets.

The local strategies include:

• A street-sweep and regular syringe clean-up targeting public housing;

• Outreach programs for youth and recreation activities on high-rise housing estates;

• Increased entertainment in Bourke and Russell Streets to give youth alternatives to drugs;

• A training video for traders on how to react when faced with upset users;

• A new five-day-a-week syringe disposal service in Kensington, Carlton and the CBD;

• Improved drug rehabilitation and treatment facilities linked to needle exchange services;

• Support for families of drug users through counselling, self-help and parent support groups;

• Installation and emptying of needle and syringe bins in shopping areas;

• More sporting and entertainment programs aimed at vulnerable youth;

• Hepatitis B inoculation program for drug users and their families.