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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/29/northern-territory-unveils-plan-to-combat-ice-problem
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| Funding missing from Northern Territory plan to combat ice Funding missing from Northern Territory plan to combat ice | |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Northern Territory government has announced a comprehensive strategy to combat the spread of methamphetamine, but with large parts of it unfunded. | The Northern Territory government has announced a comprehensive strategy to combat the spread of methamphetamine, but with large parts of it unfunded. |
| The ice action plan, unveiled by chief minister Adam Giles on Monday, flagged intentions to improve health and rehabilitative care, strengthen legislation, improve interstate law enforcement cooperation and review youth diversionary programs, but no increases in funding were announced. | The ice action plan, unveiled by chief minister Adam Giles on Monday, flagged intentions to improve health and rehabilitative care, strengthen legislation, improve interstate law enforcement cooperation and review youth diversionary programs, but no increases in funding were announced. |
| The only specific funding noted was $1m for an awareness campaign which will fund a multimedia information campaign seeking “to get the message out that ice is a scourge on our community, it affects people individually, it affects families, and it affects communities”, Giles told media at Darwin rehabilitation centre, Banyan House. | The only specific funding noted was $1m for an awareness campaign which will fund a multimedia information campaign seeking “to get the message out that ice is a scourge on our community, it affects people individually, it affects families, and it affects communities”, Giles told media at Darwin rehabilitation centre, Banyan House. |
| It will educate people about the dangers of the drug and how to seek treatment. | It will educate people about the dangers of the drug and how to seek treatment. |
| “[Ice] is a significant concern on the national scale, and a significant concern on the territory scale,” said Giles. | “[Ice] is a significant concern on the national scale, and a significant concern on the territory scale,” said Giles. |
| The use of methamphetamine – including the drugs speed and ice – has increased in Australia substantially in the past five years, a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia said on Monday. Researchers suggested regional use may be behind the increase. | The use of methamphetamine – including the drugs speed and ice – has increased in Australia substantially in the past five years, a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia said on Monday. Researchers suggested regional use may be behind the increase. |
| Ice is present in major towns in the Northern Territory but is not considered to have made a significant impact on remote communities. However social services fear it will. | Ice is present in major towns in the Northern Territory but is not considered to have made a significant impact on remote communities. However social services fear it will. |
| The ice action plan will include education programs in schools and awareness paraphernalia in Indigenous languages. It does not outline funding for increased rehabilitation or harm minimisation services, both included as part of the action plan. | The ice action plan will include education programs in schools and awareness paraphernalia in Indigenous languages. It does not outline funding for increased rehabilitation or harm minimisation services, both included as part of the action plan. |
| “How we best manage resources across a range of different providers in being able to assist and treat people is always a challenge,” Giles told media. | “How we best manage resources across a range of different providers in being able to assist and treat people is always a challenge,” Giles told media. |
| “But I think we’re supporting that challenge now, and I can see in time to come there’s going to be a larger challenge and government is going to have to respond.” | “But I think we’re supporting that challenge now, and I can see in time to come there’s going to be a larger challenge and government is going to have to respond.” |
| He said there was other departmental funding that went to services, but could not say if there had been any increases to individual agencies. | He said there was other departmental funding that went to services, but could not say if there had been any increases to individual agencies. |
| “There’s a huge penetration in expenditure across all levels of government across the Northern Territory. | “There’s a huge penetration in expenditure across all levels of government across the Northern Territory. |
| Chief executive of Banyan House, Chris Franck, said the plan was positive but noted his organisation had seen a 180% increase in the number of people seeking treatment and had received no increase in funding for five years. | Chief executive of Banyan House, Chris Franck, said the plan was positive but noted his organisation had seen a 180% increase in the number of people seeking treatment and had received no increase in funding for five years. |
| He predicted that at the current rate of new drug users seeking treatment, rehabilitation accommodation could reach “crisis point” by October this year. | He predicted that at the current rate of new drug users seeking treatment, rehabilitation accommodation could reach “crisis point” by October this year. |
| Banyan House has a 24-bed facility for people struggling with drug addictions. Franck estimated another 50 beds across the territory would be needed by the end of 2016 to deal with demand. | Banyan House has a 24-bed facility for people struggling with drug addictions. Franck estimated another 50 beds across the territory would be needed by the end of 2016 to deal with demand. |
| “At this point we cope, but if the increase continues as it has been over the last year we will run out of funds and not be able to do what we do,” he told media. | “At this point we cope, but if the increase continues as it has been over the last year we will run out of funds and not be able to do what we do,” he told media. |
| “We have not enjoyed any increase, our funds have been stable for the last five years, and I do not have extremely high hopes we will see an increase.” | “We have not enjoyed any increase, our funds have been stable for the last five years, and I do not have extremely high hopes we will see an increase.” |
| Len Notaras, chief executive of the NT Department of Health, said there was no “one-stop” solution to combatting ice. | Len Notaras, chief executive of the NT Department of Health, said there was no “one-stop” solution to combatting ice. |
| “It’s about education, it’s about prevention, it’s about treating the acute phase, and the acute phase is different to other drugs,” said Notaras. | “It’s about education, it’s about prevention, it’s about treating the acute phase, and the acute phase is different to other drugs,” said Notaras. |
| “Then of course the rehabilitation, and that’s where [Banyan House] and the other eight across the Territory are critical.” | “Then of course the rehabilitation, and that’s where [Banyan House] and the other eight across the Territory are critical.” |
| The NT plan announced on Monday comes off the back of a parliamentary inquiry into the drug last year. The government has already moved to strengthen police powers. | The NT plan announced on Monday comes off the back of a parliamentary inquiry into the drug last year. The government has already moved to strengthen police powers. |