The Victorian Greens say new figures showing more than 5122 Victorians are waiting for alcohol and other drug treatment are a damning indictment on Jacinta Allan's Labor Government who are failing to properly fund frontline health services.
New data from the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association shows the number of people waiting for treatment has more than doubled since 2020, with around 40 per cent of people seeking support still waiting to be assessed.
The Greens say that when someone reaches out for help with addiction, they should be able to access treatment immediately - not left waiting months while their health deteriorates.
The Greens say that access to mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment is essential for community safety and that proper investment in frontline services takes pressure off hospitals, police and prisons that are all currently being overwhelmed due to Labor's reckless and reactionary policies that have been rolled out without proper planning and resourcing.
The Greens have consistently called for greater investment in community-based mental health and alcohol and other drug services because getting people help early saves lives and reduces pressure on hospitals, police and the justice system.
As stated by the Victorian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Sarah Mansfield:
"Investment in alcohol and other drug support should be a priority, and the fact that the waitlists have blown out like this is an indictment on Jacinta Allan's Labor Government.
"Every month that a person is stuck on a waitlist, that person is at risk of losing their life. That's the cruel cost of Labor's failure to properly invest in treatment.
"Every dollar invested in treatment reduces pressure on hospitals, police and prisons - and crucially, saves lives. If Labor is serious about community safety, it needs to stop treating drug and alcohol treatment as an afterthought. Helping people get well is one of the best ways to prevent harm before it happens."
