CANNABIS
INTERVENTION SESSIONS
1248. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer the minister to section 8J
of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981, which deals with cannabis intervention
sessions and the powers of the CEO of the Department of Health with regard to
the same.
(1) How many
treatment providers have been authorised by the CEO of Health to provide
cannabis intervention sessions and how diverse are their locations?
(2) Have any
conditions been placed upon any of those authorised providers under section 8J(2)(c)
of the act; and, if so, what are those conditions?
(3) Have any of the authorised providers had their
authorisation cancelled or amended since they were granted?
(4) What is the
overall cost to the government for the provision of cannabis intervention
sessions across WA on an annual basis?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The Mental
Health Commission currently contracts 14 organisations that provide this
service in every health region in Western Australia.
(2) Service providers are bound by the following
contractual requirements: to provide priority access in the specified
region for participants required to complete a cannabis intervention session;
to allocate and maintain agreed 90-minute CIS regular booking slots by
specified frequency and location according to the
number and location specified in their agreement; to provide face-to-face, person-centred,
best practice CIS delivery by trained alcohol and other drug counsellors
free of charge, as agreed with the diversion participant;
to provide induction and operational support of relevant staff undertaking CIS;
and to liaise as required with the MHC booking service and the Western Australia
Police Force drug diversion team to support effective and efficient delivery of
CIS.
(3) A number of
organisations have ceased providing CIS due to lack of demand or an alternative
alcohol and other drug service provider being available in the region.
(4) I am advised
the Mental Health Commission is not able to provide the requested information
in the time required.