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Budgets not the way to tackle addiction

Iain LEES-GALLOWAY

Associate Spokesperson for Health
30 August 2011
MEDIA STATEMENT

Budgets not the way to tackle addiction

Tepid support from the Government for a national alcohol and drug treatment strategy demonstrates its complacency around tackling the real problems New Zealand faces, Labour’s Associate Health spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.

“Just a day after figures show more pregnant women are using P, Peter Dunne is telling participants at an addiction symposium that while prevention is generally preferable to cure, new treatment initiatives hinge almost solely on budget targets

“When we have role models encouraging excessive drinking, and methamphetamine damaging more and more new-borns, the response has to be more than a politically motivated suggestion,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.

“Until we stop demanding DHBs focus on ‘outcome targets’ such as patient waiting lists and ED waiting times and focus instead on treatment around harm minimisation, prevention and early intervention, New Zealand will continue to have a harmful culture around drink and drugs.

The Government needs to ensure mental health and addiction services become a pri

ENDS

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