A drug overdose can have a devastating impact on a person and their loved ones, with serious health impacts at best and death at worse.
On International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August, Bass Coast Health (BCH) is raising awareness of the drug and alcohol services we offer to the community from the Phillip Island Health Hub at Cowes and Wonthaggi Hospital.
The Alcohol and other Drugs Counselling Team at BCH provides supportive, safe and confidential services for people in the Bass Coast who are impacted by drugs and alcohol – whether personally or through the habits of another.
Team Leader Deb Guy said BCH offers a variety of services: non-residential withdrawal services, pharmacotherapy for people who want to stop taking heroin or pain-relieving drugs, counselling services, a care and recovery program, and a family support program. All services are free.
“Suffering an addiction to drugs, including alcohol, can have serious physical and mental effects on a person and the broader community, but people suffering need not do so as the experienced, qualified and caring team at Bass Coast Health is here to help,” she said.
In addition to providing individual support, BCH offers SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training) at the Phillip Island Health Hub in Cowes every Tuesday at 11am and at Wonthaggi at the Centennial Meeting Room, 1 Bent Street (the Artspace) every Thursday at 11am. Meetings are peer support style with a trained facilitator and run for 60-90 minutes.
“We also have a Needle and Syringe Program with dispensing machines at the Phillip Island Health Hub and Wonthaggi Hospital,” Ms Guy said.
“These machines provide free needles, sharps and swabs to the community to promote safe injecting. Everyone who injects safely and doesn’t share needles is at less risk of being infected and therefore stays out of hospital.
“We also arrange Naloxone pens for people who have a person they are close to who could be at risk of overdose.”
People can access the services of the Alcohol and other Drugs Counselling Team by phoning the Australian Community Support Organisation on 1300 022 760 or filling in the e-referral form at https://www.acso.org.au/aod-mh-support