Thursday, 30 November 2023

Pharmacotherapy services

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:43): (652) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health. The action I seek is for the minister to improve access to drug treatment and rehabilitation services in the west. A report recently released by the Coroners Court in Victoria into drug overdose deaths revealed that after the City of Melbourne the Brimbank local government area had the highest number of deaths by drug overdose in Victoria. That is in my electorate. Outside the CBD three of the top five local government areas for drug overdoses are in the west – Brimbank, Maribyrnong and Greater Geelong. My constituents in the west are wondering what the government is doing about this serious issue.

We in the west are constantly reminded that the west is not getting the same level of service delivery. For example, one treatment pathway for people with opioid addiction is pharmacotherapy. This uses an alternative drug like methadone to help people transition off using more harmful drugs. If a resident in Sunshine goes to the federal government Health Direct website and searches for ‘pharmacotherapy treatment for drugs of dependence’, the nearest locations are South Yarra, then Northcote and then Preston.

Residents in the east and north have access to this service, but there is nothing in the west. I ask the government why they are neglecting the west. We need to prioritise the improvement of services around livability, transport and health for my constituents. The action I seek is that the minister expand access to drug treatment and rehab services in the west.