LOCAL Court Magistrate Andrew Eckhold has called for the establishment of a drug detoxification and rehabilitation centre in Dubbo.
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The magistrate described the lack of services in Dubbo as a big problem.
“The court deals with so many people with the dual diagnosis of mental health issues and drug dependency,” he said.
“Obtaining appropriate care is difficult. Large numbers of people are falling through the gap.”
Mr Eckhold said hospitals were often unable to take people with substance abuse problems if they were also mentally ill.
Conversely, many mental health units were not willing to accept people with a history of substance misuse.
Mr Eckhold said securing treatment was particularly difficult for women with very young children.
“It would be so much better if drug treatment facilities were available in Dubbo,” he said.
The magistrate made the comments yesterday while dealing with a series of alleged dual diagnosis offenders.
Stuart Edward Gray was described as having a constellation of mental health and drug issues.
The 31-year-old appeared on charges of larceny, having custody of a knife in a public place, shoplifting and behaving in an offensive manner in public. The court heard Gray had substance abuse problems and at the time of his latest offence he had topped up a regular dose of methadone with Valium.
The charges were adjourned to allow health officers to assess Gray for the Magistrate’s Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) drug and alcohol diversion program.
MERIT provides an opportunity for adult defendants with substance abuse problems to work towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process.
Participants are closely case-managed by the MERIT team and the court receives regular progress reports.
Final hearing and sentence generally coincides with the completion of the MERIT program.
Magistrate Eckhold called for a full pre-sentence report and ordered Gray to return to court on October 2.
Anthony Baxter appeared before the court via prison video link with a complicated history of substance abuse, self harm attempts, complex relationship issues, domestic violence and anger management difficulties.
The 23-year-old faced multiple charges of damaging property, failing to appear in court in accordance with bail undertakings, contravening the restrictions of an apprehended violence order and behaving in an offensive manner in public.
Magistrate Eckhold revoked a good behaviour bond and suspended jail sentence previously handed down by the court and imposed seven-month and nine-month intensive correction orders to be served concurrently.
The intensive correction orders will allow Baxter to serve a period of imprisonment in the community.
For the next nine months he will be required to be of good behaviour, reside at an approved address, complete 32 hours of community service per month, comply with the directions of a supervisor, accept surveillance and monitoring and present for drug and alcohol testing.
“It is in the community interest for you to serve an intensive correction order,’’ Magistrate Eckhold said.
“Take advantage of the opportunity to rehabilitate.’’
Ted Gordon was another example of an offender with a complex history of mental illness and drug abuse. The 34-year-old faced the court on a charge of contravening the restrictions of an apprehended violence order.
“If you were able to do MERIT it would be a big achievement.’’
Gordon returns to court on September 25.