NEXT STEP RUNS DETOX CENTRE

The Soapbox by Noel Smith (Drug treatment that works, 24/12) was factually
misleading. The opening sentence refers to "the Government's push to
establish a detox centre".

There is already a detoxification centre in Moore Street, East Perth,
managed by Next Step.

Within months of coming to office the Government set up a community drug
summit and all but one of the 45 recommendations were accepted for
immediate action.

The drug summit recognised the need to establish a youth detoxification and
respite centre. The tender for this service, with an annual budget of
$750,000, was awarded to Mission Australia and it will be operational in
February or March.

The drug summit also recognised the value of home-based detoxification and
withdrawal programs. In response to the summit recommendations, $300,000
has been provided for the expansion of home-based withdrawal services for
the Perth metropolitan area. The service is operated by St John of God
Health Services, which has contributed $150,000 in the current financial year.

The article also refers to minimal government support for George O'Neil's
program. However, the contribution provided through the recently formed
Drug and Alcohol Office is far from minimal. In fact, at $1 million a year,
the amount made available to operate the program is significant, as are the
allocations to a number of drug and alcohol-related services and programs.
There is a total of $51 million a year provided for these services and
other statewide drug initiatives.

In addition, in response to the drug summit recommendations, a further $5
million was provided over 18 months for the alcohol and drug sector. Half
of this amount is being spent on direct drug and alcohol services.

There is also a commitment to continue moving towards treating drug
addiction as a health, rather than a criminal, issue.

EMMANUEL STAMATIOU, acting executive director, Drug and Alcohol Office, Mt
Lawley.