INITIAL recommendations from the federal government's ice taskforce are on the right track, according to central west drug and alcohol worker Lynn Field.
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Fairfax Media obtained sections of the report that recommended federal, state and territory governments invest more money in drug and alcohol evidence-based treatment services that link to social, educational and vocational support.
Nguumambiny Indigenous Corporation chief executive Lynn Field said the initial recommendations "are a good indicator" the taskforce is thinking realistically and holistically about the nation's ice epidemic.
"Knowing that the report says that we need to put more into treatment services is fantastic," Ms Field said.
Ms Field wanted to see detox beds in every hospital, but said rural towns like Warren don't have the doctors to supervise the beds and "help people get off the stuff".
"It's a problem in Narromine, it's a program in Warren, it's a problem in Nyngan and they don't have the resources they need in order to affect change," she said.
"It's just frustrating. You see people that want help, that need help and they only get little bits of support, but it's not enough."
Sections of the report obtained by Fairfax Media also called on governments to improve the planning for long-term treatment services, including lengthening funding periods so services aren't left working from grant to grant.
"Specialist treatment services are unable to keep up with demand and people seeking help are falling through the cracks," the report says.
"Services are often funded in a manner that results in duplication, inefficiencies and a lack of long-term planning."
Ms Field agreed that funding needed to be re-examined.
"The $4 million that was put out over four years ... equates to about $6 per addict per year," she said, in reference to the drug and alcohol service funding package announced earlier this year.
"$350,000-a-year would buy a property or man a property but we need to be able to deal with the processes causing addiction."
With many of her clients struggling to find work, Ms Field welcomed the report's reference to links to vocational support.
"If someone has an addiction issue, as soon as anyone finds out ... they have trouble getting work," she said.
"You need to do in a way that doesn't set them up to fail. That's why some of the life skills programs we run at Nguumambiny are so valuable."
