Mental Health and Alcohol and other Drug Services PDF

Running head: POLICY AND POLITICS 1
Mental Health and Alcohol and other Drug Services
Name
Institution

POLICY AND POLITICS 2
Mental Health and Alcohol and other Drug Services
Mental health and alcohol and drug abuse remains a critical aspect of focus by the
Victorian government. As such, it directs several policies and legal reforms in managing and
reducing the prevalence of the cases through offering up-to date solutions to the cases. Mental
health remains in focus with participative decision making taking a center stage among the
patients, service delivery team, and care givers. The government took the initiative through a
legal response in providing guidance and funding towards the reduction and sensitization on the
challenges existing. The case examines the policies and legal responses given by the government
in the mental health and alcohol and other drug use by the Victorian government.
A legal response entails the formation of an act legal in nature that acts in the interest of
the residents towards their protection and ensuring proper treatment and care for affected
persons. The Victoria’s Mental Health Act 2014 is one such initiative which placed mentally ill
persons at the centre of such a care system with regard to decision making on the issues
surrounding it (Victorian State Government, 2018). The Mental Illness Act is meant to
encourage psychiatrists and other practitioners in the development of a stronger relationship with
mental health service users in the provision of information and support towards making informed
choices concerning their health.
The Mental Health Act focuses on delivering reforms to the mental health system of the
area by allowing people with mental illness to participate and contribute their ideas on the care
and recovery process. In so doing, it encourages a strong communication channel between
consumers, care givers, and practitioners in delivering their services (Victorian State
Government, 2018). The principles and objectives of the Act includes offering holistic care and
support options to the individuals, ensuring people are supported in participating in decision

POLICY AND POLITICS 3
making activities with least disruption, protecting and promoting individual rights at all times,
ensuring well-being of individuals, and protecting rights and dignity of persons under care (Patel,
Chisholm, Parikh, Charlson, Degenhardt, Dua & Lund, 2016).
Every year, the Victoria’s alcohol and drug treatment department supports thousands of
residents struggling with dependence on drugs and alcohol use. In the process, the government
supplies treatment options through a skilled and dedicated workforce that provides excellent and
effective services to individuals. The support comes through a policy setting where the
government responds through sensitization and funding activities channeled towards the service
providers and persons affected at the community levels (Jackson, Felstead, Bhowmik, Avery &
Nelson-Hearity, 2016). Moreover, there is an established service standards and guidelines in the
Victorian government legal charter that enhances service development and improvement as per
by the law.
In the guideline, the alcohol and other drug treatment service providers are held
responsible for the provision of accessible, safe, and professional service in line with treating and
handling clients with respect, courtesy, and dignity. The alcohol and drug principles and charter
create a wide service system which therein highlights the state expectations from the providers
(Goodyear, Hill, Allchin, McCormick, Hine, Cuff & O'hanlon, 2015). The state funded treatment
services ought to meet the requirements, standards and accreditations to ensure compliance with
the Victorian Government guidelines released alongside the legal order.
According to the Victorian State Government (2018), the policy contains issues in drug
control such as the pharmacotherapy introduced as a replacement for opioid effective in
treatment for opioid dependence. The therapy is essential for individuals with long term heroin
use in reducing the dependency and improper use of the commodity. As such, it remains valuable