Keep addicts here says drug forum

– Shaun Inguanzo
SPRINGVALE social workers say they will fight any plans to force drug addicts out of Greater Dandenong.
Last week Victoria Police revealed plans to move drug dealers and addicts out of the City of Maribyrnong in Melbourne’s West as a method of reducing drug related crime.
Victoria Police said Project Reduction would aim to reduce crime in drug-affected areas across Melbourne’s west, covering suburbs such as Footscray and Braybrook.
Social workers and the city’s mayor opposed the idea and said it would only move addicts and dealers into other municipalities.
This week Eddie Micallef of the Springvale Drug Action Community Forum said the group would not support a similar program if proposed for Greater Dandenong because it was not a cure for addiction.
“The other major problem for agencies in the area is that moving them on would be denying addicts support services that are proven to be a really important part of effective rehabilitation,” he said.
“You are talking about a group of people who have addiction problems and we are trying to keep away from alcohol and drugs, not cities.”
The Springvale Drug Action Community Forum meets each month at the City of Greater Dandenong’s Springvale chambers to discuss drug issues in the area.
Representatives include Springvale police inspector Derek Lamb, Springvale North Ward councillor Alan Gordon and a host of social workers from the Springvale district.