New funding for South Australian sport clubs to tackle drugs menace

The South Australian Government is to invest $300,000 over the next 18 months to support more than 15,000 members of South Australian sporting clubs through a program that helps prevent and reduce harm caused by illegal drugs.

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) will use the new funding boost to support 75 sporting clubs across the State to engage in the Tackling Illegal Drugs program.

25 sporting clubs in central and northern metropolitan Adelaide, and 50 clubs in Murray Bridge, Port Augusta, Renmark, Whyalla and the Yorke Peninsula will benefit, including more than 15,000 extra members of South Australia’s sporting community.

The new funding is part of the ‘Stop the Hurt’ SA Ice Action Plan, and enables further expansion of the Australian Government’s $4.6 million Tackling Illegal Drugs national program, which is managed by the ADF.

The Tackling Illegal Drugs program offers sporting clubs information and training on how to best prepare for potential drug-related incidents, including the use of crystal methamphetamine, and respond effectively should they occur.

The program is focussed on primary prevention, which aims to create healthy environments in order to prevent future drug harms.

The South Australian Government has also allocated $3.6 million to improve access to treatment across the state with a 50% increase in non-government outpatient counselling appointments and 18 new residential rehabilitation beds in the Riverland, South East and Whyalla.

The ‘Know Your Options’ website - a one-stop online portal to access information about alcohol and other drug treatment and support services - was recently launched to support individuals and their families and can be found at www.knowyouroptions.sa.gov.au 

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