Extra $7m for treatment 'a drop in the bucket'

John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A drug and alcohol counsellor says a $7 million-a-year boost for P treatment as a "drop in the bucket" compared with the country's addiction problems.

Roger Brooking said the up to 60 extra beds announced by the Government last month would enable an extra 1000 people to be treated each year, which would make little difference after years of closures and underfunding.

He said that by Prime Minister John Key's own estimate 55,000 people were addicted to methamphetamine in New Zealand, on top of the 700,000 binge drinkers.

Two years ago the National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT) asked for a 100 per cent increase in funding and he believed the sector needed a 600 per cent increase.

"What we've got is 7 per cent each year for the next three years. From my perspective that's just a drop in the bucket."

The main problem was that the money was not enough to reverse a long-term decline.

"More than 10 residential treatment centres have closed in the past 10 years.

While the Government's been busy putting the money into drug treatment in prisons, things in the community are running down."

Many addicts who committed crime ended up in jail when they should be sent for treatment because judges could not find places for them.

The Wellington counsellor also questioned the Government's emphasis on tackling P, compared with its reluctance to make a similar stand on alcohol abuse.

"Alcohol is the number one drug in NZ, not methamphetamine. Alcohol is also the biggest law and order issue in the country, not methamphetamine.

"So while I'm pleased that the Government has put a little bit extra into helping people with methamphetamine problems, until it makes a similar or much bigger contribution into helping people with alcohol problems in society, I don't think much is going to change."

NCAT co-chairman Robert Steenhuisen said treatment providers had said funding needed to double, but needed to be realistic because of the economic downturn.

"Most people who provide health services are being required to make sacrifices, so under those conditions to receive additional money to address this problem reflected a serious commitment."

Even if the Government did agree to spend more money, it would take time to build up staff and facilities to use it.

Mr Steenhuisen, who is Auckland manager of Community Alcohol and Drug Services, said extra residential beds would soon be provided at Odyssey House, the Salvation Army, Higher Ground and other centres.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said last month that 60 to 70 beds would be available by July.