JUNKIE JITTERS
PEOPLE living near a new Townsville drug rehabilitation centre are fuming over the lack of consultation before the facility was built.
The Salvation Army’s Recovery Services Townsville centre launched their “withdrawal management program” last month designed to house and help people coming off drugs and alcohol. Participants are there on a voluntary basis and can leave at any time.
Residents on Old Common Rd, only several hundred metres from the centre, say they are worried about patients “wandering” around the neighbourhood.
“What’s going to stop someone who is desperate for another hit of whatever they were on to leave and come past our house,” concerned resident Sandra Lyons said.
“Who knows what kind of state they will be in … I have two boys aged six and eight and we have lots of children living here.”
Ms Lyons and fellow concerned resident Leisa Quagliata live in a townhouse complex on Old Common Rd, across the road from the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre.
“The detention centre hasn’t given us any cause for concern because the people in there cannot simply just walk out,” Ms Quagliata said.
“What safety measures are in palace to ensure these people don’t just wander into the complex while our kids are playing?”
Recovery Services manager Brad Whittle said he was aware of concerns from residents but they were based on perceptions rather than incidents.
“The intention is to help people get well and usually in this setting they are in a well state,” Mr Whittle said.
“There are times when they leave in unplanned ( circumstances) but most times we plan their exit. In my experience, and I’ve been doing this type of work for 10 years, I’ve encountered very few issues surrounding rehabilitation centres in any community.”
The centre opened its doors on John Melton Black Drive, Garbutt, late last year.
Ms Quagliata said residents did not know what was being built at the site until it was almost completed.
She said there was no opportunity for locals to express their concerns.
“I’m happy for these people to be getting help, it’s a good facility. I just believe that where they fell down is there was no consultation with people who are affected by potential safety issues,” Ms Quagliata said.