Rehab services must not be starved of fundsA MEASURE of a government is its behaviour towards the less fortunate in society.
How its resources are channelled to help the homeless, the addicted, the mentally afflicted and the economically disadvantaged is the yardstick of compassion.
In times of prosperity such as these, it is too easy to neglect those who have fallen by the wayside.
Which makes all the more disturbing a report in The Age this week detailing the strain under which Victoria's alcohol and drug rehabilitation services are trying to operate. A discussion paper by the Department of Human Services reveals that the services are under pressure on several fronts: increasing rates of binge drinking, a crisis in methadone treatment and a strong rise in young people seeking treatment. In the past year there has been a 12 per cent increase in young people entering treatment. Despite these facts, there is to be no additional funding in line with the increased strain put on the services. Any improvements are to be made "within existing resources". This is hardly acceptable.
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