Drug and alcohol support and services
Drug and Alcohol DIRECT Line 1800 136 385
provides a 24-hour confidential telephone counselling and referral service. They will provide counselling over the phone and can refer you to services including detoxification and rehabilitation programs, methadone prescribers and dispensers and support groups.
Family and Drug Help phone: 1300 660 068
provides 24-hour telephone support and referral for parents and family members concerned about a relative or friend's drug use. It is staffed by volunteers who have had personal experience dealing with a family member's drug use.
See the Drugs & Alcohol services section of the Port Phillip Community Directory for local support groups, counselling and advice.
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The Alcohol Action Plan
Council has begun and supported many activities to reduce alcohol-related harm in our community and recognises that there is more that can be done.
We want to maintain the City of Port Phillip's reputation as one of Australia's most exciting nightlife destinations, but we also want to reduce the negative impact alcohol has on our residents, businesses and visitors.
 Alcohol Action Plan Fact Sheet
Community Consultation results
CoPP Alcohol Action Plan
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Why do we need a Local Drug Strategy?
The aim of this strategy is to work with the community to address local drug issues.
Drugs impact on the Port Phillip community in many ways. Some residents have expressed fears regarding their safety or feel their access to public places is restricted. For others, the concern is linked to their personal use or witnessing the consequences of drug use by people they love.
Port Phillip's Drug Strategy has been jointly funded by the State Government and the City of Port Phillip.
The Local Drug Strategy arose from discussions with the Victorian Government about the establishment of supervised injecting facilities within the city for a trial period of 18 months. The trials did not proceed due to lack of support in the Upper House of Parliament.
Supervised Injecting Facilities.
Update on the Local Drug Strategy
Local Drug Strategy 2006 (Draft) - rewritten to reflect new changes in state government funding.
Local Drug Strategy 2000-2003 - six initiatives that were developed by consulting with the community and learning about people's concerns.
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What does the council hope to achieve?
Port Phillips' Drug Strategy aims to foster a community culture that helps provide pathways out of drug use and intercept the pathways in.
The project uses an assets-based approach that recognises drug users' talents and potential contribution to the community. The strategy aims to help drug users reintegrate into the general community and utilises their expertise and experiences as a way of educating the community about drug related issues. It understands that people experiencing drug issues would be better served by a well informed community that understood their predicament, supports them and provides them with real opportunities to build their skills and self confidence and get their lives back on track.
This project recognises the limitation of focusing exclusively on a person's physical health and psychological issues in drug treatment. It is important that the rehabilitative process addresses the social, cultural and emotional aspects of drug use. Drug users need to engage in meaningful activities that will encourage them to change their lifestyle and allow a foundation for employment, multiple connections to their community and a genuine sense of feeling valued. Motivation for lifestyle changes decreases rapidly when people experience boredom and loneliness while attempting to give up drugs.
As one long-term drug user explained:
"I don't have that many skills. You find yourself going back to prostitution. I would love to get a straight job now - I don't use drugs anymore and I am really straight and everyone I know is a drug addict or a crim or a pro. I am so lonely because I don't know any straight people and it is really hard to get back into straight people even to have a conversation with them ."
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Concerns of the general community
- People report feeling distressed by evidence of discarded drug and sex work paraphernalia littering the street
- Want the consequences of drug related behaviour including crime, effect on safety and use of amenities reduced
- Would like opportunities to deepen their understanding of drug issues and participate in specialised training
- Recognise that support is needed for families and friends affected by drug use
- Understand the strong link between street sex work and drug use and want pragmatic strategies to address the issues
- Want an opportunity to advocate and participate in reducing drug related harms in the community
- Think that the broader social issues that influence drug use such as education, training and employment and homelessness need to be addressed
- Would like police to concentrate less on prosecuting street sex workers and more on responding to residents calls about serious crimes
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Concerns of drug users
- Distressed about stigma and stereotypes attached to drug users
- Want opportunities to contribute to and be accepted by the community
- Opportunities to have direct and meaningful input into policies, direction of service provision and gaps in service
- Require more recreational activities and pathways to employment opportunities
- Still concerned about lack of understanding and judgemental attitudes amongst some service providers
- Want opportunities to improve the community's general knowledge of drug related issues, their capacity for understanding and responding in a positive manner
- Need services that are flexible to their needs
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What is the council doing?
As a result of the above feedback, the City of Port Phillip has created a drug initiative that:
- Encourages community involvement in taking a pro-active approach to drug related issues in Port Phillip
- Provides community education on drug related topics
- Has established strong networks that receive and disseminate information about drug related issues and trends
- Provides a regular Drug Forum for information exchange that is attended by residents and local health agencies. The Drug Forum currently has a membership of more than 150 people.
- Prepares and distributes the Substance newsletter, developed largely by drug users to communicate their experience of drug related issues to the wider community
- Gives marginalised groups a voice in our community
- Encourages residents to participate in improving the amenity and safety of their neighbourhood. Talbot Reserve and Duggan Reserve have been greatly improved through 'Design-Ins' which encouraged residents and advocates for marginalised groups to have input into the new design of the parks
In addition to this strategy, there are other state-funded programs in Port Phillip that provide direct services to drug users and their friends and families.
The Inner South Community Health Services' Arrest Referral Program (CCI program) and the St Kilda Legal Service Drug Outreach Lawyer programs aim to 'break the cycle' of re-offending and address the underlying problems that cause these offences, increasing the safety of the overall community.
The Hustling to Health Program also run by The Inner South Community Health Service focuses on providing health services to some of our most vulnerable community members including street based drug users and sex workers.
The Families and Friends Support Group based at the Elwood/St Kilda Learning Centre offers practical information and support to family members and partners of drug users.
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Concerned about drug use in our community?
Drugs and community partnerships forum
The City of Port Phillip understands the importance of involving community members in generating solutions to local problems. A local Drug and Community Partnership forum has been formed that provides traders, residents, users, police, agencies and the council with the opportunity to discuss local drug issues and explore solutions. People can strengthen their understanding of drug issues, form partnerships and develop innovative approaches to local drug issues.
Licensees Accord
Visit the Licensees Accord page for more information on Port Phillip's alcohol policy and the results of alcohol and other drug research by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre.
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Substance newsletter
Contributors to Substance have included past and present drug users, health workers and academics. Members of the community are welcome to contribute to the newsletter.
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Relevant links
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - www.aavictoria.org.au
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Australian Drug Foundation - www.adf.org.au
Conducts research on drug issues, implements drug education programs, develops resources for school students, teachers and parents, implements public awareness campaigns and provides information for a range of community and professional groups. Includes the Centre for Youth Drug Studies and 'Good Sports' - Managing Alcohol in Sport.
InfoXchange includes drug and alcohol agency - www.infoxchange.net.au/db/agency.html
It's Our Drug Problem - www.health.vic.gov.au/drugs
A Victorian government website for young people containing information about cannabis, ecstasy and heroin use. Includes: interactive map linking to drug counselling centres in Victoria, links to drug information; support services; and fact sheets in nine languages other than English for parents. Ring: 1800 888 236 (24 Hours) or visit:
Better Health Channel - www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Health and wellbeing information and services sponsored by the Victorian Government, including excellent information on drugs and alcohol.
Quit (Smoking) - www.quit.org.au
Managed by the Cancer Council Victoria, this site contains general information quitting smoking and tobacco related health issues.
You can use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer phone ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for the Community Health & Development Unit.
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