Western Australia’s Mental Health Minister has given the go-ahead to develop a service model to trial a “compulsory treatment facility” for drug addicts and alcoholics.
Andrea Mitchell says the government has “heard the outcry” from communities over the effects of drug and alcohol addictions, with crystal meth in particular attracting attention.
The Mental Health Commission has held talks with counterparts in the Northern Territory, NSW and Victoria about their compulsory treatment laws.
Current legislation in WA only allows for patients to be detained short term if they are suffering drug-induced psychosis.
Details such as a facility location, patient age restrictions and length of stay are yet to be decided.
