About the new services
We have delivered four new residential rehabilitation and withdrawal services to support people experiencing problematic alcohol and other drug use.
The services:
- offer specialist residential rehabilitation and withdrawal management
- improve local access to alcohol and other drug treatment and support
- better meet the health needs of our communities
- partner with local services to help more people get the support they need.
Locations
The new services are in Bundaberg, Cairns, Ipswich, and Rockhampton.
We chose these locations based on the local need for additional treatment services in Queensland. The new services help support existing funded and public health services.
We planned the services through consultation with local Hospital and Health Services, the non-government sector, and people with lived experience of problematic alcohol and other drugs use.
Find out what treatments and services are available at each location.
What are residential alcohol and other drug treatment services
Residential treatment is a health service that provides live-in and bed-based care in the community. It includes:
- 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, specialist alcohol and other drug treatment and care from qualified staff
- treatment planning and comprehensive assessments that are designed to meet a person's individual needs
- pre-treatment and post-treatment care to support a person's continued recovery and everyday living in the community.
All residential treatment services are alcohol and non-prescribed drug free zones.
There are 2 types of residential treatment services provided at the new centres.
Residential rehabilitation
Residential rehabilitation is a service for people to get intensive treatment for problematic alcohol and other drug use. It provides live-in treatment where a person will stay at the service and take part in a structured rehabilitation and recovery program.
The program generally takes 6 to 12 weeks but can be up to 6 months. It includes different therapeutic activities that involve clinical, cultural, social and other skills to support a person's continued recovery.
A person must stop the use of alcohol and non-prescribed drugs to start residential rehabilitation.
Withdrawal management and care
Withdrawal management and care is a short term, supervised intervention. It's also known as detox. Withdrawal generally takes 3 to 10 days.
The intervention helps people safely reduce or stop using alcohol and other drugs and manage their withdrawal symptoms. A specialist nursing team will manage a person's care through the program.
Withdrawal management can include medication, psychosocial support and therapy to support a person. This helps prevent medical and psychological issues and complications when a person stops using a substance.
Who can access residential treatment
Residential treatment services are available for adults and for young people who are experiencing problematic substance use.
Attendance in the service is voluntary. Many people ask for help when they're ready to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing. A person must choose to take part in treatment.
A person can refer themself to a service. Family, carers or health professionals can also refer a person. For young people, parent or guardian consent may also be needed.
Benefits to the community
Residential treatment services can make a big difference to a person’s care. It provides local specialist treatment which helps people make positive behaviour changes and get:
- better and quicker access to care
- treatment and care closer to home
- custom care plans based on their needs.
Residential treatment also helps reduce the harm caused by problematic alcohol or other drug use, such as illness, losing a job or negative impacts on relationships.
Better and quicker access to treatment also reduces the stress on families and loved ones.
Who provides the services
We have chosen specialist providers of alcohol and other drugs treatment to operate the new services, through a procurement and tender process. They manage all:
- staffing and training
- treatment and individual care planning
- referrals and admissions.
The local Hospital and Health Service owns the land and buildings for the service.
Community safety
Effective treatment for alcohol and other drug issues helps reduce substance use and related harms for individuals and families. It helps to improve community safety by allowing better and earlier access to treatment.
There is no evidence that suggests crime rates or safety issues increase because of alcohol and other drug residential treatment services.
The service is an alcohol and non-prescribed drug free zone. People who access the service must be willing to actively take part in their recovery.
The service provider will manage clients and visitors including any possible incidents, disturbances, or nuisances if they happen.
Queensland Health and the Queensland Police Service will engage with the local community to address any issues should they arise.
Help and support
For information or assistance to find a suitable alcohol and other drug treatment service, contact Queensland Health ADIS 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support on 1800 177 833.
They provide 24-hour, 7 day a week confidential support for people in Queensland with alcohol and other drug concerns, their families and health professionals. You can also request a call back or search the services directory through the website.