A RIVERLAND meth-amphetamine addiction program will remain closed for the foreseeable future after the State Government decided against providing further funding.
PsychMed’s Riverland MATRIX pilot program, a 16-week intensive outpatient recovery trial based in Berri, ended last December after pilot funding from the State Government ran out – although four participants still enrolled in the program will be able to complete their treatment.
A Government spokesperson said the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) had been engaged in 2019 to evaluate the 24-month trial and measure its progress.
“The MATRIX pilot program in the Riverland has concluded following the completion of a two-year trial, with an independent evaluation finding the pilot did not meet the expected program outcomes,” they said.
“A range of alcohol and other drug programs will continue to service the region, including alcohol and other drug counselling provided by SA Health which includes outreach service to Barmera, Berri and other towns determined by service demand.
“Outpatient counselling and six residential rehabilitation beds are also funded by SA Health and provided by Uniting Communities in the region.
“Statewide alcohol and other drug services are also available to people in the Riverland.”
PsychMed psychologist Dr Quentin Black, who was instrumental in bringing the program to the region, said final outcomes from the trial were still being measured, with a research paper being prepared for publication.
“People on the program have not quite completed yet and we have not given the report to Government as of yet, or heard that they have ruled out future funding, although we are happy they funded a pilot,” he said.
“It was a shame COVID fell in the middle of it but, nonetheless, it has produced significant and positives outcomes for the individual participants, their families and the community, and provided some very valuable lessons which we hope will help others establish similar treatments successfully in regional Australia.
Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said it was “very disappointing” the program was unsuccessful.
“An independent evaluation found the program didn’t meet the outcomes that were promised,” he said.
“SAHMRI got limited feedback from PsychMed, with some of the data that they provided not sufficient to satisfy the evaluation process.
“I also met with SAPOL officers and senior SAPOL personnel and they didn’t endorse it.
“They’re seeing firsthand the impacts on the ground, and they said it wasn’t the program that they think we needed.
Mr Whetstone said he would work with the Riverland Drug Action Group to look for a more permanent solution for the region.
“We’ll just have to explore what other opportunities are out there,” he said, “so we can find something that meets the Riverland’s needs.”