New $3 million drug rehabilitation unit to support young people

Young people with chronic alcohol and drug problems will have access to the first long-term rehabilitation centre in Victoria as part of a Government initiative to help young people win the battle against drug abuse.

Health Minister John Thwaites said a new 15-bed youth Statewide residential rehabilitation centre—giving intensive support for up to nine months—would be built in Eltham in a secluded bush setting with $3 million of State Government funding.

Victoria is the first state to fund a centre specifically for young people who need intensive and long-term support to rebuild their lives after withdrawing from alcohol, cannabis, heroin and other illicit drugs.

Drug-withdrawal can take six to 10 days but helping young people to get their lives back on track requires long-term help to ensure lasting change.

This centre will provide a 24-hour staffed residential treatment program to people aged 15 to 20 whose use of legal and illegal drugs have caused significant harm.

When completed, it will be one of eight new youth drug treatment services opened by the Government as part of a commitment to double the number of treatment and rehabilitation places, Mr Thwaites said.

The Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS) will run the unit in partnership with the Centre for Adolescent Health, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre and Mental Health Services for Kids and Youth (MH-SKY).

YSAS has already begun consulting with neighbours and the local community of the new site in Mt Pleasant Road with the local council embracing the need for a youth rehabilitation centre.

Because the new facility would take about a year to build an interim site has been leased as a matter of urgency in Yarrambat with the first young people due to begin treatment in mid-October.

‘We are providing new hope and support for young people trying to shake their drug habits and lead productive lives.’

Mr Thwaites said the Government had boosted funding for drug services by $77 million and was doubling the number of treatment and rehabilitation beds to 800.

‘Our strategy is designed to put our young people on course for treatment and rehabilitation so they can rejoin society and lead productive lives,’ he said.