METHAMPHETAMINE —
COMPULSORY CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES
1216. Hon PETER COLLIER to the
parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the media statement titled
''Methamphetamine Action Plan boosted with more initiatives'',
released on Monday, 26 November 2018, and the announcement that the state
government will plan for a WA trial of compulsory crisis intervention.
(1) Given that the Methamphetamine Action Plan
Taskforce final report advises the government that there is ''existing
unmet demand for treatment services including residential rehabilitation''
and therefore ''voluntary treatment needs should be met before giving
any consideration to compulsory residential rehabilitation treatment'',
why has the government planned to introduce compulsory crisis intervention
services?
(2) What are the
current levels of unmet demand referred to in the report for treatment services
in residential rehabilitation?
(3) What are the
expected costs for undertaking a trial of compulsory crisis intervention for
the Department of Health, Mental Health Commission and Western Australia Police
Force?
(4) What is the
model of service that compulsory crisis intervention will utilise or be based
upon, given the McGowan government originally deferred the introduction of
compulsory treatment until the results of a New South Wales trial were
available?
Hon ALANNA
CLOHESY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The planning
for compulsory crisis intervention services will commence in response to the
Methamphetamine Action Plan Taskforce report's recommendation 29 to ''establish
an appropriate alternative crisis intervention response that would provide a short-term
place for methamphetamine users when they are in crisis that will keep them,
their families and the community safe''. This does not encompass the
provision of longer term compulsory residential rehabilitation.
(2) The ''Western
Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025''
identified that the optimal level of residential rehabilitation services by the
end of 2017 was 399 beds; that is, 55 additional beds compared with 2013 actual
levels. Since the release of the plan, an additional 52 residential
rehabilitation beds have been provided, with the state government committing to
provide these on an ongoing basis as part of the methamphetamine action plan.
There will be funding of $16 million from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
In addition, as part of the MAP, the state government has committed to provide
up to 33 residential rehabilitation and low-medical withdrawal beds in the
south west, with funding of $9.3 million from 2018–19 to 2021–22.
As a result, the 2017 optimal level identified in the plan has been met.
(3) The costs will be determined
following the finalisation of the model of service.
(4) The model of
service will be established through a consultative co-design process to address
compulsory crisis intervention for people who are at imminent risk of causing
serious harm to themselves or others as a result of their alcohol or other drug
use.