Peter Cranage runs the drug and alcohol team at UnitingCare and said on Thursday night the plan would help the organisation’s efforts. 

“We need more funding, more resources to combat this issue,” he said. 

“With a drug like ice, you’ve got to look at the particular type of detox.

“You’ve got to cater your unit to their needs, because someone coming down from ice would be very flat for three or four days and couldn’t take part in the normal rehab activities, for example.” 

UnitingCare treated 124 clients in 2014 who listed ice as their “primary drug of choice”. 

The Ice Action Taskforce was an election promise from the Labor government. It also provides $4.7 million to help families identify and manage ice users and $1 million to support frontline workers. 

In a statement, Premier Daniel Andrews underlined the harm ice was doing to Victorians, whether they use it or not. 

“Across our state, good, smart kids are dropping out of school, running away from their families and falling out of society,” he said. 

“Ice is ruining lives, and the time to act is now.” 

Mr Cranage said increasing support for families had the potential to make a real difference. 

“Families are a massive resource in this and getting money into education and support for them is a good sign,” he said. 

Mr Cranage also said ice changed people’s brains and so specialised training for support workers was always welcome. 

“After long-term ice use, you lose the ability to feel pleasure, and so some people will go back to the drug because that’s the only way they can get that dopamine,” he said. 

“Workers have to work with a person differently because of things like that.” 

Emergency Services Minister Wade Noonan will meet with Ballarat drug and alcohol services workers and police on Friday to talk about the plan.

alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au