By NICOLE VALICEK
A NEW paper might hold the key to reducing the overall death toll arising from drugs and alcohol in the Melton community.
‘Reducing the alcohol and drug toll: Victoria’s plan 2013-2017’, released by the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) adopts a whole government strategy to reduce the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on the Victorian Community.
VAADA executive officer Sam Biondo said the document targets high areas of concern, like alcohol, and focuses on segments of the community where issues are more complex.
“The circumstances governing growth corridors particularly in relation to rapid population increase strains on the support services (in the community),” Mr Biondo said.
“In some circumstances the non-existence of support services in the alcohol and drug area need to be addressed.”
According to data published in a report by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre called Trends in alcohol and drug-related ambulance attendance in Melbourne: 2010-2011, the number of alcohol and cannabis related incidents attended by an ambulance in Melton is on the rise.
Over the 2009/10 period the number of alcohol-related ambulance attendances in Melton jumped from 92 to 121 in 2010/11.
The report also showed that the number of cannabis-related incidents attended by ambulances in Melton climbed from 13 throughout 2009/10 to 23 in 2010/11.
The VAADA paper sets out a 15-point plan addressing the three major drug types; alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs and illegal drugs.
Mr Biondo said the document hopes to set in place mechanisms that will focus attention and resources on areas of need.
He said the current circumstances dictate a re-focus of scarce resources and the government paper could be used as a tool to meet localised circumstances.
“VAADA has been expressing strong concerns regarding the unacceptable death toll for a long time.”
In 2011, the drug toll in Victoria was 356, 18 more deaths than 2010 and 69 more than the road toll of 2011.
Mr Biondo said he was aware of the problems impacting growth corridors, but was optimistic that the document could provide a strong framework for driving the necessary reforms to reduce the drug/death toll.
“Ultimately the success of this strategy can be premised on the level of participation and commitment from all government departments and service sectors.”
