Making Alcohol & Drug Treatment a Priority

Making alcohol and drug treatment for young people a priority is an essential investment in New Zealand’s future.

The National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT) is the national voice of the addiction treatment sector, representing treatment, education, policy, and other interests.

Our goals are to double the capacity of New Zealand’s addiction treatment sector within the next three years, broaden the range of treatment options available, and improve access to treatment.

Enclosed is our most recent position paper in which we have brought together the relevant statistics and research findings to prove the case for increasing New Zealand’s addiction treatment services for young people.

There is compelling evidence that alcohol and other drug treatment interventions can be effective with young people. Studies have found intervention can:

• Reduce problem behaviour
• Increase confidence, self esteem and involvement in positive activities
• Improve academic attainment and school attendance
• Improve mental health
• Improve family relationships
   

Treating young people to reduce alcohol and drug abuse is an investment in the future.  Each $1 spent on treatment returns $4-7 in economic benefits to society.  We strongly believe that we must begin taking steps now to increase investment in addiction treatment services for young people, and to start building the capacity required to provide greater access to treatment.

Please contact us to discuss these issues further by emailing: info   "at" ncat.org.nz.
 

Yours sincerely

Christine Kalin & Robert Steenhuisen

Co-chairs NCAT