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In its Building Healthier Communities framework, the Northern Territory Government recognises that substance misuse is a problem for the whole community affecting our health, economy and quality of life. The best way to tackle these problems is in partnership with government services and non-government agencies and communities.
The Alcohol and Other Drugs Program (AODP) aims to promote individual and community wellbeing by minimising harm associated with the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, through a range of prevention, education, treatment and community action initiatives.
The program employs 78 officers across the Territory, including doctors, nurses, counselors, psychologists, educators, trainers and administrative staff.
The program budget for 2005/06 is $19M, of which approximately $7.6M or 40% will be spent in funding to some 36 different Non-Government Organisation (NGO) service providers.
AODP has a community development focus that facilitates community participation and involvement in identifying and responding to substance misuse issues in the community. The Program is also responsible for the planning, delivery and funding of a wide range of treatment and care initiatives across the Northern Territory and has a strong emphasis on workforce development as a way to enable health and community agencies to be able to respond to the effects of substance misuse.
Challenges facing the Alcohol and Other Drugs Services Program in 2005/06:
- High rates of alcohol consumption and tobacco use across the NT community.
- Significant social, health and safety issues with inhalant substance misuse in certain regions.
- Coordinating activities with other partners and managing competing priorities.
Priority Actions for 2005/2006
Contribute to the prevention of substance misuse and related harms
What will we do? - Develop and distribute information materials for people at particular risk of substance related harm.
- Monitor drug use patterns and problems across the community as a means to inform community planning and action and target prevention activities.
- Work with communities and community groups to plan and implement prevention activities.
- Support community patrols, outreach programs and referral networks to work with community patrols.
- Develop new and existing night patrols in remote communities.
- Improve tobacco control measures in the Northern Territory.
How will you know we have achieved these things?
- NT specific alcohol resources will be developed and distributed including information for pregnant women and their neonates.
- Completed research projects on party drugs, illicit drug trends and the Australian Schools Alcohol and Drug Survey.
- New education resources for indigenous communities will be developed and disseminated.
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- Public Behaviour Program funds will be advertised and disbursed.
- Community development plans and activities will be implemented in some remote communities.
- The service model linking the Nhulunbuy Special Care Centre with aftercare and community support will be developed for public tender.
- Grants to remote communities through Remote Area Aboriginal Alcohol and other Substance Strategy (RAAASS) funds and community development funds will have been provided.
- The Review of the Tobacco Control Act will be underway and systems for enforcement will be in place.
- The dissemination of Aboriginal specific tobacco resources.
Improve Options and Opportunities for People to Access Early Intervention and Treatment for Substance Misuse Problems 
What will we do?
- Work with service providers to implement service standards and to improve service systems in regional areas.
- Increase the capacity of drug and alcohol withdrawal services in Darwin and Alice Springs.
- Enhance treatment options for people co-existing with disorders.
- Improve tobacco cessation services and increase opportunities for people to quit smoking.
- Deliver training to health workers and clinic staff to be able to respond to substance misuse issues.
- Deliver accredited training to alcohol and other drugs workers.
How will you know we have achieved these things?
- The Review of Services and Interventions will be completed and distributed.
- Project planning with agencies will be completed and options for service standards will be decided.
- Forums with service providers will be completed and processes for ongoing collaboration determined.
- Client Outcome Study for withdrawal services will be finalised.
- New outreach models to support alcohol withdrawal services will be in place.
- Clinical audits of opiate withdrawal programs will have occurred.
- Training to enable health and clinic staff to deliver quit courses will have occurred.
- Conduct brief interventions and assessments for Alice Springs hospital in patients.
- Conduct clinical visits to remote indigenous communities in partnership with community mental health services to enhance treatment for clients with a co morbid condition.
- Improved performance measures for AODP funded services will be in place.
- The provision of accredited counseling training.
- A successful pilot of the National Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drug Training (Certificate III).
- Authorised officers under the Tobacco Control Act will be appointed.
- The development of a NT Tobacco Strategy.
- Airing two television campaigns promoting the benefits of quitting smoking.
Support Cross Agency Initiatives to Respond to Substance Misuse
What will we do?
- Continue to support the Community Harmony Strategy through the development and monitoring of treatment and care initiatives for people living an itinerant lifestyle.
- Work with the Office of Alcohol Policy and Coordination to implement the Northern Territory Alcohol Framework (NTAF).
- Develop compulsory treatment options under the proposed Antisocial Behaviour Bill.
- Assist people in contact with the criminal justice system to have access to alcohol and other drug assessment and treatment.
How will you know we have achieved these things?
- Community Harmony Strategy Programs will be funded and monitored.
- AODP will contribute to the review of the Northern Territory Liquor Act.
- The program will contribute to the collection and reporting of health related alcohol indicators under the NTAF.
- New options for court-referred treatment will be instituted.
- Options for Alcohol Courts explored.
Develop and Implement the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act and Related Programs and Services
What will we do?
- Develop the legislative mechanisms to support the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act (VSA) .
- Develop VSA rehabilitation and treatment programs and services.
- Improve monitoring of VSA patterns and prevalence.
How will you know we have achieved these things?
- Supporting regulations and guidelines will be developed.
- The clinical positions funded through the VSA funding will be recruited.
- New urban services will be negotiated and operational.
- A policy and procedures manual for remote VSA services will be developed collaboratively with remote service providers.
- An audit of petrol sniffing numbers will be completed.
- Education and guidelines for the declaration of community management plans will be underway.
- New remote services and positions will be developed.
- Support to remote service providers has commenced and will continue.
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