Alcohol and other drug problems are complex, affecting not just individuals but their families, their friends and their communities.

Each year, Victoria's alcohol and drug treatment and support system helps around 40,000 Victorians who are struggling with dependence on alcohol or other drugs.

A range of state-funded community-based and residential treatment options are available to support people on their recovery journey, including counselling, withdrawal, rehabilitation, care and recovery coordination and pharmacotherapy.

Residential rehabilitation is one of these treatment options, providing a safe and supported environment in a community-based setting for people to recover from their alcohol and other drug use. To be accepted into a residential rehabilitation service the person must no longer be using alcohol and drugs.

Residents in Mildura and the Mallee region will get the support they need to recover from drug and alcohol addiction. A new 30-bed adult residential rehabilitation centre and an additional two beds will support people going through withdrawal.

Funded in the Victorian Budget 2022/23, the $36 million facility will provide structured therapeutic support in a home-like environment, where people experiencing addiction can address underlying issues to overcome alcohol and other drug use – adding to $52 million already invested in recently-opened

AOD facilities in Corio, Traralgon and Wangaratta.

State funded alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation units are typically located in a community residential setting and provide 24-hour care and support for people who have been through withdrawal or stabilisation and need to continue their treatment via residential rehabilitation.

The Northern Mallee region is in the north-west area of Victoria around the central point of Mildura. With a population of close to 53,000, the City of Mildura is located about 540km from Melbourne. It is the largest city of the vast but sparsely populated Sunraysia area, which encompasses the Loddon Mallee catchment, the northern edge of Grampians catchment and parts of New South Wales and South Australia.