MEDIA RELEASE
8 OCTOBER 2009
Increased addiction treatment funding will save lives
Increased funding for the addiction treatment sector announced today will enable an expansion of services and make a
real difference to people with addictions.
The National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT) welcomes Prime Minister John Key’s announcement today that the
Government is taking the ‘P’ issue seriously with increased funding, says NCAT co-chair Robert Steenhuisen.
The National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT) welcomes Prime Minister John Key’s announcement today that the
Government is taking the ‘P’ issue seriously with increased funding, says NCAT co-chair Robert Steenhuisen.
“The increased funding will enable treatment providers to increase residential treatment capacity and social
detoxification services, and reduce waiting lists. The lack of residential beds has been an ongoing concern for us but
this additional resource will help redress that problem and, ultimately, save lives.
“Residential treatment is important because it provides an opportunity for those severely affected by alcohol and drugs
like ‘P’ to remove themselves from the destructive lifestyles that go with addiction and restore their lives.”
The increased funding will also provide long-term funding certainty around attracting, retaining, training, and
developing much-needed staff.
“We’re particularly pleased that workforce issues have been included in the package announced today because, without a
properly trained and skilled workforce, we will be unable to deliver increased services.”
The new funding announced today provides the treatment sector with greater resources to combat the ‘P’ scourge, but
there is still greater capacity required in other parts of the sector, particularly treatment for alcoholism.
“While we wholeheartedly support this excellent government initiative, let’s not lose sight of the fact that alcohol
still remains our number one problem drug. More work and more funding is still needed in this area.”
National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT)
NCAT is an independent group of service leaders, educators, representative groups, and elected individuals that provides
leadership to the addiction (alcohol, other drugs, and gambling) sector and its stakeholders. It was established in
2005, and is the first representative body to reflect the full range of treatment, education, policy, and other
interests and activities relative to addiction.
ENDS