Living with Alcohol in the Northern Territory Executive Summary
Tabled Paper 633
Tabled Papers for 6th Assembly 1990 - 1994; Tabled Papers; ParliamentNT
1991-11-13
Tabled by Marshall Perron
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory under Standing Order 240. Where copyright subsists with a third party it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.
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Tabled papers
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https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021C00044
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/293619
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/397376
counselling, specialised treatment and rehabilitation for problem drinkers; supportive therapy for their families; direct care services such as the safe management of acute intoxication (sobering up shelters) to prevent drunken people from harming family and friends, the community, themselves and each other, safe management of withdrawal for the small number who are physically dependent oon alcohol (detoxification); and facilities for those with alcohol related brain damage. W hat is going to happen ? Substantial additional funding will be provided to fill gaps in the range of alcohol related services and programs. Funds will be directed to services and programs through the consultative planning processes previously outlined. Initial consultation and analysis of available programs and services has already identified a number of broad areas for attention: the particular drinking patterns and needs of women, the need for culturally focussed programs for Aboriginal people under the direction of Aboriginal people, the needs of families of problem drinkers, the need for a significant expansion in specialised treatment and rehabilitation services. Expansion in specialised treatment and rehabilitation programs will represent a substantial investment as such services tend to be relatively costly, particularly residential programs. To insure optimal returns in this area of investment, the following will need to be in place: adequate assessment services in all regional service centres to ensure that clients are matched with the most suitable treatments; adequate after treatment follow up and relapse prevention workers in the community to support the family as well as the problem drinker this includes the placement of Aboriginal alcohol and family workers in Aboriginal communities; a training and support program for these workers; expertise and funds to plan the required specialised treatment services. Other areas identified through consultation to date are the need for: agreed monitoring and evaluation processes, with a commitment to outcome evaluation; a major investment in training for all generalist and dedicated alcohol service providers; resources to expand early and minimal intervention techniques across all appropriate departments and agencies; substantial special funding to support community initiatives in remote Aboriginal communities;