Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Can the minister please update the council on services available to support both people with substance abuse problems and their families and friends?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his question. Substance use problems are a major cause of preventable disease and illness in Australia. Illicit use and other substance use problems cause death and disability and are risk factors for many diseases. We also see the impact of these behaviours in our emergency departments where challenging behaviours put stress on our clinicians and disrupt services.

The Marshall Liberal government is committed to working with the community to improve the outcomes for families affected by drug and alcohol issues, as well as to reduce their incidence. The 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey provides some encouraging data, showing that fewer Australians are smoking, more Australians are giving up or reducing their alcohol intake, rates of substance use are falling amongst younger generations, and non-medical pharmaceutical use is down. However, the survey also found that 16 per cent of Australians aged 14 and over had used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months.

The consequences of illicit drug use and substance use problems touch all facets of a user's life—their health, their relationships, and employment and education opportunities. It can also have a profound and life-changing impact on the user's family and friends. Families, support people and peers can be critically important for people who have problematic alcohol and other drug use.

Very often, they find themselves being the first responders in emergency situations, and their quick responses in times of great stress can be vital in reducing fatal overdoses or other critical health incidents. Families may provide important emotional support as well as practical assistance. They can provide an important link to treatment, encouraging and supporting their loved ones towards the health services that can assist them.

Family Drug Support is a non-government organisation that offers support and education services to the family and friends of people with problematic alcohol and other drug use, offering a family-focused approach to responding to alcohol and other drug issues. Family Drug Support officers work tirelessly to help reduce the stigma, shame and discrimination experienced by people with substance use problems.

In South Australia, Family Drug Support is funded by SA Health under the specialist drug and alcohol assessment and treatment service program to provide family support and education services to families directly affected by substance misuse. Services include the Stepping Stones to Success program; a telephone support service for crisis support and counselling for families; Stepping Forward information and education sessions to various community and family groups as well as treatment services; group meetings for interfamily support; individual support where appropriate; and training sessions to teach potential leaders and facilitators of the Stepping Stones to Success course and volunteers on taking calls on the telephone support service, including technical knowledge of drug issues and listening skills.

Family support group sessions are held at important locations in metropolitan Adelaide, as well as Port Augusta, Barossa and Mount Barker. We are fortunate to have Family Drug Support providing support to families in South Australia. Their strong advocacy for families and improvements and access to service continues to be very important. I would like to thank all those involved for their ongoing efforts. I also want to pay tribute to the families and friends of those with substance use problems. Their strength and resilience is vital and key to the welfare of the person for whom they are providing support.