[Greens-Media] Hospitals groan under weight of ice epidemic, better services needed

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE - 4 April 2007 Hospitals groan under weight of ice epidemic, better services needed Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today called on Premier Iemma to drop his 'tough on drugs' facade and commit greater funding to drug treatment and rehabilitation programs to tackle the increasing use the drug 'ice' (crystal methamphetamine).  Ms Rhiannon's comments are in response to a study published today in the Medical Journal of Australia that details the increased burden placed on hospitals by admissions from users of ice who suffer psychosis and other medial complaints. "The study released today shows that emergency wards in NSW hospitals are groaning under the weight of increasing admissions from ice users", said Ms Rhiannon. "The government has established some innovative programs to tackle the ice epidemic, but Premier Iemma's obsession with being seen as 'tough on drugs' means that the treatment and rehabilitation programs in place are scarce on the ground and underfunded. "Despite Premier Iemma's tough talk, NSW has a Clayton's decriminalization of ice in place. Police frequently take addicts to emergency departments, rather than the police station. "The study published today analysed admissions at an inner-city emergency department and found that amphetamine-related presentations at hospitals account for over 1% of total admissions.  "The study found these patients frequently re-attend and take up massive resources of the emergency department. The study predicted that the burden on emergency services will continue to grow. "A recent review of US drug law found that there is little evidence that tougher law enforcement reduces drug use and that drug treatment services are more productive and cost-effective. "Examples of drug treatment strategies based on early intervention, treatment and support are already in place in WA and Canada. NSW is dragging its feet on this issue and our public health system is suffering under the weight. "Premier Iemma is quick to put the boot into the Greens for our harm-minimisation approach to ice but the reality is that the Labor government has instituted innovative ice programs, based on harm-minimisation principles.  "The Iemma government has set up a Stimulant Treatment Program at St Vincent's and Royal Newcastle hospitals to treat ice addicts and a 'MERIT' program to divert ice users from the justice system to rehabilitiation.  "For the sake of our overstretched public health system, Premier Iemma needs to bring these programs out from behind the closet and expand their funding and reach", said Ms Rhiannon.
For more information:          Lee Rhiannon    9230 3551       0427 861 568