The future of a Chittaway Bay Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre is in doubt, following a federal funding cut.
The Glen delivers crucial programs for addicts – and its affiliates in the Hunter Valley could also be affected
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The future of a Chittaway Bay Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre is in doubt, following a federal funding cut.
The Glen delivers crucial programs for addicts – and its affiliates in the Hunter Valley could also be affected
I have worked and studied in the field of substance abouse for forty plus years. When employed by the NSW Health Commission during the mid seventies and early eighties I was involved in the establishment of several residential rehabilitation centres beginning at Moree, Broken Hill, Nowra and Cowra.
I was an ongoing consultant for those places.
In 1982 I joined the Department of Corrective Servises as a Probation and Parole officer and remained in that field for several years.
Having residential rehabilitaion services for people with addictions enabled us to assist our clients in turning their lives around. Of braking the circle of recidivism.
I was not involved in the establisment of The Glen at Chittaway Point but I utilsed that service exstensively with excellent results.
In 2002 I was on the staff of the Glen Annex for six months which enabled me to make a very in depth assessment of the service it provides, it covers the total needs of addicted people.
Any consideration of either closing or reducing that service would be nothing short of a calamity.
Is it not interesting that as one substance abuse treatment centre (The Glen) gets its funding reduced, another (Armidale) gets a funding boost? It sounds like a musical chairs funding arrangement!
It would be of more than passing interest to see how well these two centres perform.
In any case, we need a lot more money spent on well-performing substance abuse treatment centres than on gaols, many of whose inmates are affected by substance abuse.
As a visitor to the Glen Center from 2005 through to 2007 I have seen the amazing work that has been delivered to the clients living at the Glen. Outsiders tend not to understand that there is another side to a drug and alcohol abuser,but as one who attended many meetings and having the chance to meet clients I know that cutting funds to this rehab center would be a crime on a much more calculative level.
Shame on you whoever you are that supports this motion, shame on you for not investing more needed funds and the lack on importance you put in this program to improve and help rehabilitate addicts and alcoholics , not everyone is a lost cause.
The way this money is granted and several years later is denied blows me away; it seems as though it’s only ever granted when D&A is a hot topic (people dying, committing acts of desperation to feed habits etc). When will governments wise up and focus on prevention rather than cures? You can back it in, that when overdose and drug related crime waves are being sensationalised by the media and places like Redfern are headlining, places like the Glen will be quizzed about “why aren’t you’s doin more for your people”. While people like James Pitt will be who the media run to, to promote and seek guidance from. If an organisation is achieving it’s (originally funded) objectives, why would you want to compromise that, don’t mess with what’s working! Stoopid Politicians……..