Drug addicts can’t get help they need

TASMANIA’S shortage of addiction medicine specialists has forced a search for expertise in Britain, a Senate inquiry has been told.

People grappling with drug and alcohol addictions are struggling to find timely treatment because of a scarcity of expertise and services, Dr Adrian Reynolds told the Senate public hearing yesterday.

“We have had addiction specialist positions vacant for five to six years in Tasmania,” Dr Reynolds said.

Dr Reynolds, who is clinical director of Tasmania’s Alcohol and Drug Service, said the difficulty in trying to recruit expertise across Australia had forced an international search.

“We are now trying to recruit from England, at great expense,” he said.

Dr Reynolds was speaking before a public Senate hearing on the Federal Government’s drug testing trial, whereby the Government plans to force up to 5000 welfare recipients to undergo drug tests as part of receiving payments.

Dr Reynolds said the policy would fail because treatment services were not available and those addicted to drugs would face higher risks of poverty, homelessness and desperation.

Addiction specialists told the hearing earlier today that about 200,000 people across Australia are receiving treatment for drug addiction — but a further 200,000 people need help but are not getting it.

“I witness the reality of this shortfall every day in my working life,” Dr Reynolds said.

“There are areas of Tasmania where treatment services simply don’t exist.”

He said patients needing treatment were regularly waiting six to 12 weeks, and may need to travel long distances for the treatment.

Dr Reynolds is also the president of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, and presented the organisation’s position to the hearing.

“The RACP wants to work with the government to create effective policy solutions for people battling drug and alcohol addiction but drug testing Australians on welfare is not the way to do it,” he said.

“Drug testing welfare recipients and removing their support won’t connect them with the treatment and rehabilitation services they need. This policy will fail and it will lead to poor health outcomes for this community.”

Dr Reynolds was asked by Victorian Senator Richard Di Natale about the possibility of increased poverty and homelessness.

Dr Reynolds said many people with addiction would spend less on basics such as food, income and their family’s needs. “For many people it will push them over the edge,” he said.

Dr Reynolds said there was the potential for increased crime under the plan, as people denied welfare payments may be forced to find other ways of raising the money needed to obtain illicit drugs.

“As a clinician, and anecdotally, I do know that when people are addicted their options are constrained and they do what they need to do to maintain the addiction.

“They find other ways — one of the ways they do that is by engaging in crime.”

RACP President Dr Catherine Yelland said the policy of drug testing welfare recipients had failed in other countries.

“The experience of countries like the USA and New Zealand tells us that drug testing has a poor record in identifying people with drug problems and modifying drug use,” she said.