Mental health minister Andrea Mitchell has announced an increase in funding for drug education programs to school parents and education support staff on the dangers of methamphetamine.
An extra $500,000 will be spent on helping a better understanding of prevention and treatment of methamphetamine use, according to Ms Mitchell.
“The funding will strengthen the capacity of pastoral care staff including psychologists, chaplains and nurses to help students understand the misery of meth,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It will also help parents by boosting the ongoing delivery of the successful parent education sessions, which assist them to understand prevention and treatment of meth use.
“This initiative will put skills and knowledge in the hands of those people who have daily contact with young people who may be susceptible to, or affected by, methamphetamine use.”
Education minister Peter Collier said the initiative would target young people at increased risk of harm by including resources warning students in years 11 and 12 about the dangers of meth use.
He said the new resources and interactive online materials would be aimed at disengaged students, Aboriginal students in remote school sites and students with special needs.
“Reducing the impact of meth use on our community is a high priority for the state government and this is an early intervention initiative aimed at reducing demand,” Mr Collier said.
