Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program

Reducing waiting times and barriers to care

Improving access to alcohol and other drug treatment services

providing integrated treatment for people with co-occurring mental health conditions

Prioritising vulnerable population s and underserviced groups

supporting prevention, recovery and wellbeing through coordinated, local, community-based care.

Through this reform process, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment program was redesigned to deliver integrated, accessible, recovery-oriented alcohol and other drugs services that better meet the needs of North Coast communities, particularly people experiencing complex mental health and substance use challenges.

The Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program was redesigned through the 2022-2023 Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Alcohol and Other Drugs Service Reform Project. The reform used a participatory design approach, ensuring the services reflect the needs and experiences of local communities.

Key elements of the approach included:

Participatory co-design – engaging people with lived and living experience, carers, clinicians, Aboriginal organisations, community members and other stakeholders in workshops and consultation processes to identify service gaps and co-design solutions.

Through this reform process, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment program was redesigned to deliver integrated, accessible, recovery-oriented alcohol and other drugs services that better meet the needs of North Coast communities, particularly people experiencing complex mental health and substance use challenges.

The North Coast Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program is delivered by The Buttery, providing a range of evidence-based, community-based alcohol and other drugs treatment services across the North Coast.

Key activities include:

• Brief intervention
• Youth alcohol and other drugs treatment
• Adult alcohol and other drug treatment
• Community withdrawal management
• Care coordination and service management
• Family and carer support
• Recovery oriented support

The program adopts a person-centred, trauma informed, harm minimisation and recovery-oriented approach, with services tailored to individual needs and designed to improve health, wellbeing, and social functioning while reducing alcohol and drug related harm across the North Coast.

Improve access to evidence-based alcohol and other drug treatment services across the North Coast, including rural and remote communities.

Support individuals to reduce or cease harmful alcohol and other drug use through person-centred treatment and recovery planning

Provide early intervention and brief intervention services to prevent the escalation of substance use challenges

Improve physical health, mental health and overall wellbeing for people experiencing alcohol and other drugs issues

Deliver integrated care for individuals with co-occurring mental health and drug use

Strengthen capacity to manage recovery, build resilience and maintain long term goals

Support family members and carers by providing education, information and involvement in treatment, where appropriate.