Exploring the place of alcohol and other drug services in the mental health system

Our 2020 report Exploring the place of alcohol and other drug services in the mental health system is part of 360Edge’s ongoing work supporting health service improvement and a well-trained and responsive workforce.

We were invited by the National Mental Health Commission to explore examine the issue of how to improve responses to people with alcohol and other drug and mental health issues as part of the Vision2020 process.

We interviewed key experts, reviewed the international literature and looked at successful programs that address both issues.

We found that integration of the two service systems is NOT the answer. The evidence is that typically in jurisdictions where this has happened, the alcohol and other drug sector has suffered financially and have lost specialist expertise. The key stakeholders were overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining alcohol and other drugs as a stand alone sector, focusing on improving responses to co-occurring disorders within each sector and coordinated care.

The Victorian Royal Commission into the Mental Health Sector in 2021 came to the same conclusion: Mental Health services need to focus on improving their responses to people with alcohol and other drug problems in their services and work more effectively with the alcohol and other drug sector.

Exploring the place of alcohol and other drug services in the mental health system >