MORE 'DETOX' BEDS ARE NEEDED

As someone who has worked in drug alcohol detoxification, I believe that the
Bracks Government strategy will be ineffective without an immediate increase
in "detox" beds across the state.

How does a worker explain to a family member that their child who has asked
for help to counteract their addiction cannot get into a facility anywhere?
Yet this happens every week.

Also, I believe the injecting rooms could be operated better within special
"community houses", where anyone using the facility had to contribute to the
running of the house, for example, buying the food, cooking etc. Worker
would then be able to "engage" the person.

These houses are operating very successfully in Sweden.

As a community, we need to "own" this issue.

MARY KEATING,
Flemington