In open court in Dunedin yesterday, Judge Stephen O'Driscoll called on community alcohol and drugs service (Cads) and probation service staff to explain why there was a six-month waiting list for people needing assistance with drug and alcohol problems, and what was being done about it.
Representatives of Cads, a specialist service funded by the Otago District Health Board, told the court that people with milder problems were having to wait because increased referrals and more methadone clients had put pressure on the service.
Judge O'Driscoll said most people who passed through the criminal justice system had problems with alcohol and/or drugs, but it was meaningless sentencing someone to get help when help was not available.
"And there's a public safety issue when you have drink-drivers who say they want help and assistance but they can't get any. Their motivation is highest when they are facing court action and when their disqualification runs out six months down the track . . . they think 'I'm OK' and they then go out and do it again."
He had experienced the same issues in Oamaru, but judges in other parts of the country said they did not have similar problems.
Probation service manager and Cads liaison officer Veronica Maitland told the court that probation referred people ordered to get alcohol or drug counselling or treatment to the district health board, but understood treatment was "unlikely to happen" within the next six months.
Probation service southern regional manager Paul Tomlinson said the concerns identified in Dunedin were only recently brought to Corrections' attention and the department would speak with the Ministry of Health and the Otago District Health Boards.
Cads manager Tony Martin told Judge O'Driscoll the service was overstretched.
A 25% increase in referrals this year and more than 300 people on its specialist methadone programme - when it was only funded for 238 - meant Cads had to concentrate on those with the more serious problems.
People with mild problems needed help too because they could still alter their behaviour.
"We are turning away the very people we could probably do the most qualitative work with."
Board mental health and community services group manager Elaine Chisnall said the ODHB was not sure why there was such an increase in referrals, or where the people were being referred from, but would look at the increase.
Both the probation service and Cads said they would investigate what was happening in other parts of the country to see if any system used elsewhere would work in Dunedin.
Judge O'Driscoll asked to meet the group in four weeks for an update on progress.
