18 June 2006

Helping communities develop drug and alcohol solutions

NSW Health Deputy Director General, Strategic Development Dr Richard Matthews today officially announced the launch of Drug Action Week (18-24 June) and commended the work of the 80 Community Drug Action Teams (CDATs) throughout NSW.

"Community Drug Action Teams are made up of local service providers, business and church groups and individuals who give their time and efforts to identify alcohol and drug issues affecting their own communities and develop practical solutions to tackle them," Dr Matthews said.

"Approximately 30 CDAT activities will take place across NSW during Drug Action Week.

"The activities have a strong emphasis on youth involvement and include education camps, information stalls, school information sessions, public forums and youth events.

"The diversity of events illustrates the different issues affecting communities and reinforces the importance of localised activities.

"For example, on the Central Coast a forum will be run for parents to assist them to help their children with issues associated with alcohol or other drugs.

"Bourke CDAT will host a drug information and BBQ day in the local park to help raise awareness of drug and alcohol issues.

"In Wollongong a conference will be held to explore methods of best practice in dealing with alcohol and other drug issues and to provide a forum for services to connect and initiate working partnerships.

"The value of such localised activity should not be underestimated," Dr Matthews said.

Since 1999 the NSW Government has committed $1.7 million to Community Drug Action Team projects across NSW with $231,311 committed in 2005/6.

"This year the NSW Government funded 67 Community Drug Action Team projects so that communities could tackle alcohol and drug problems in their own area. This included team training in leadership, skills development in engaging young people in drug action work, and brought together CDATs in regional conferences to share their knowledge and experiences," Dr Matthews said.

"Recent research indicates that among young people aged 15-24 nearly one in six deaths and one in five injuries requiring hospitalisation over the past decade can be attributed to risky alcohol consumption.

"A number of drugs used by young people - notably alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy - have been linked to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.

"There is a clear need for a range of responses to the complex problem of drug and alcohol misuse.

"CDATs play an important part in combating these problems and the harm caused not only to those misusing alcohol and drugs but to their families, friends and communities who also bear part of the burden," Dr Matthews said.

Drug Action Week is jointly supported by NSW Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation.

The Alcohol and other Drugs Council (ADCA) provide the co-ordination point through the production and distribution of resources and a website that includes a national calendar of events.

Related links:

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au