Budget cash tackles Vic drug/alcohol abuse

More people with drug and alcohol addiction will be treated across Victoria under a $38 million funding increase.

Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge said the state government will spend $30.9 million over four years to treat up to 2000 more illicit drug users in programs in outer Melbourne and the Grampians, Gippsland and Hume regions.

Another $3.1 million will be shared by six hospitals to improve their response to people with drug or alcohol addictions in their emergency departments.

The government will also invest $4 million to build a four-bed residential care unit at Heidelberg that will treat new mothers with drug or alcohol addictions without separating them from their babies.

The measures will be announced in next week's state budget.