Cook Government creates dedicated Alcohol and Other Drug Office

• New Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs to be established within the Mental Health Commission
• Part of a recommendation to elevate the focus on alcohol and other drugs within the health and mental health systems
• Cook Government committed to decreasing the harm associated with alcohol and other drugs

A new Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs will be established as part of the Cook Government's commitment to addressing the harms associated with alcohol and drug use in Western Australia.

In 2022 the Independent Review of the WA Health System Governance (the Review) found alcohol and other drugs (AOD) governance needed improvement, recommending dedicated leadership, stronger accountability and better collaboration on planning, funding and performance.

In response to the Review the Cook Government announced a package of reforms which included establishing a working group to consider optimum governance arrangements for AOD into the future.

The working group recommended a dedicated domain for the alcohol and other drug system with accountable, transparent and impactful leadership.

The office will sit inside the Mental Health Commission and be led by an experienced senior leader. It will be responsible for influencing future policy and strategy to strengthen action on alcohol and other drug issues across Western Australia.

Comments attributed to Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:

"The prevalence of drugs and alcohol in our community is an ongoing challenge, and the establishment of a dedicated Office of Alcohol and Other Drugs will support harm minimisation and treatment.  

"It responds to calls from the sector to lift the prominence and profile of the AOD sector within the MHC and provide leadership in this important area."