More than 5122 Victorians are currently sitting on a drug and alcohol treatment waitlist, according to new figures released by the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association. Victorian Greens say the number has more than doubled since 2020. They have accused the Allan Labor Government of leaving people in crisis without proper support.

These figures paint a troubling picture of addiction treatment waiting times across the state. Around 40 per cent of people who reach out for help are still waiting simply to be assessed, let alone begin treatment. For many families, that delay stretches across months, and sometimes longer, while a loved one’s condition continues to worsen.

A Waitlist That Keeps Growing

The scale of the increase has alarmed health advocates and opposition politicians alike. A drug and alcohol treatment waitlist of this size did not appear overnight. Instead, it reflects years of demand outpacing the capacity of frontline services. It also raises serious questions about how the system supports people at their most vulnerable moment, the point at which they finally ask for help.

Victorian Greens health spokesperson Dr Sarah Mansfield described the figures as a damning indictment of government priorities. According to her, investment in alcohol and other drug support should never be treated as optional.

“Investment in alcohol and other drug support should be a priority, and the fact that the waitlists have blown out like this is an indictment on Jacinta Allan’s Labor Government,” Dr Mansfield said.

She went further, warning that every month someone spends on a waitlist carries real risk.

“Every month that a person is stuck on a waitlist, that person is at risk of losing their life. That’s the cruel cost of Labor’s failure to properly invest in treatment,” she said.

Why Early Access Matters

Health researchers have long argued that early support gives people the best chance at recovery. When addiction treatment waiting times blow out, that window can close. Consequently, people lose motivation, circumstances change, and some end up back in crisis before they ever reach a treatment bed.

The consequences extend well beyond the individual. Greens leaders argue that a stretched drug and alcohol treatment waitlist places added strain on hospitals, police and the justice system. In their view, these are problems that earlier intervention could have prevented.

“Every dollar invested in treatment reduces pressure on hospitals, police and prisons, and crucially, saves lives,” Dr Mansfield said. “If Labor is serious about community safety, it needs to stop treating drug and alcohol treatment as an afterthought. Helping people get well is one of the best ways to prevent harm before it happens.”

Calls for Greater Investment

The Greens have repeatedly pushed for expanded funding of community based mental health and alcohol and other drug services. They argue that early support saves both money and lives further down the line. Whether the government responds with new funding commitments remains to be seen, but the latest figures add fresh pressure on Victorian health authorities to act.

For now, thousands of Victorians remain on a growing waitlist, hoping that help arrives before their situation worsens further. The gap between asking for support and actually receiving it continues to widen. Closing that gap may prove central to reducing the broader toll addiction takes on individuals, families and the wider community. A shorter drug and alcohol treatment waitlist, advocates say, could ultimately mean the difference between recovery and tragedy.

Source: greens