Well, the congratulations stuff goes without saying (particularly since they offer a 'wholistic' approach!!!!):
"The announcement by the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, to increase funding to support peak bodies, drug education, online counselling, data collection and law enforcement research was welcomed today by the Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association (ATCA). The ATCA, which represents 41 therapeutic communities in Australia, was one of the recipients of grants announced yesterday by the Minister.
Lynne Magor-Blatch, Acting Executive Officer of the ATCA believes the funding will provide much-needed support to the sector at a time when alcohol and other drug use was causing enormous concern to the community.
“We welcome the Minister’s announcement and congratulate the Australian Government for providing these much-needed funds to organisations across Australia. With a social cost of illicit drug use to the community estimated at $8.2 billion, the need to maintain the energy in providing services at this time is incredibly important”, Ms Magor-Blatch stated.
The ATCA is the peak body representing Therapeutic Communities in Australia and New Zealand. Therapeutic Communities provide a wholistic approach to treatment and rehabilitation, working to address the underlying causes of alcohol and other drug abuse, all of which impact on the person’s ability to recover. Therapeutic Communities, such as Odyssey House in Sydney and Melbourne, Karralika in the ACT, Cyrenian House in Perth, Logan House in Qld and WHOS and The Buttery in NSW, have been established in Australia for more than three decades. The 41 Therapeutic Communities in Australia and New Zealand successfully treat more than 3,000 people each year.
“Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are unique in their treatment method, in that the client community provides the main method of treatment. While staff play a vital role in guiding treatment, there is an important emphasis on self-help and mutual help. TCs are operating in both community and correctional settings, and are established in all States and Territories of Australia. TCs also traditionally work with people who have more entrenched and chaotic behaviours than many other treatment services”, Ms Magor-Blatch said today.
TCs are reporting an increase in people presenting with alcohol-related problems, with more than 50% of clients in TCs there because of alcohol-related issues. Amphetamines and cannabis are the next most prevalent drugs, often resulting in significant mental health problems.
Funding to the ATCA Secretariat will ensure that TCs in Australasia are supported to provide quality services and to continue to tackle the underlying causes of substance abuse.
Rowdy Yates
Senior Research Fellow
Scottish Addiction Studies
Dept. of Applied Social Science
University of Stirling
Scotland
T: +44 (0) 1786-467737
F: +44 (0) 1786-466299
W: http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/sections/showsection.php?id=4 (home)
W: http://www.drugslibrary.stir.ac.uk/ (online library)
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The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland,
number SC 011159.
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