One of Victoria's leading youth support agencies has welcomed a state opposition policy of mandatory rehabilitation for teenage addicts.
The coalition is planning a $30 million drug and alcohol centre so troubled youths aged 15-17 must receive treatment if their offending is a result of substance abuse.
Andrew Bruun, chief executive of the Youth Support and Advocacy Service, said the plan was based on a therapeutic, early-intervention model that would support families.
Certain youths, particularly younger teens who lacked life experience, failed to understand their behaviour and poor outcomes were linked to drug use, and therefore they left treatment too early, he added.
"There are some young kids whose level of risky activity and behaviour that they're in to will continue unabated unless someone steps in," Mr Bruun told AAP.
The 36-bed facility will cost about $20 million a year to operate when up and running, with about 60 youths tracking through it a year, doing stints between four and six months on average.
A new Youth Therapeutic Order will be created so the Children's Court can send teens in the justice or child protection systems to treatment.
"This is a policy about tough love, but it's a policy that gives kids a second chance," Opposition Leader Matthew Guy told reporters.
The system will be based on a model developed by Children's Court Magistrate Jennifer Bowles and includes clinical assessment for suitability if other voluntary treatment options are unsuccessful.
The funding would also include supports for when the youths leave the secure facility, including transition accommodation, opposition health spokeswoman Mary Wooldridge said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said his government would have more to say on mandatory treatment ahead of the November election, but pointed to the yet-to-be-built Cherry Creek juvenile justice centre's planned 24-bed rehabilitation service.
"That's how we will deal with some of those pressure and some of those challenges, providing an environment where you can actually get the care and the treatment as part of your custodial sentence," he told reporters.
Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said current drug and alcohol diversion programs with the courts were showing positive outcomes.
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