June 21 - Drug Action Week: Indigenous Peoples

Drug Action Week® - 18-22 June Day Four – Indigenous Peoples How to address alcohol and other drugs misuse within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is a complex issue, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), Ms Donna Bull, said today. Day four of Drug Action Week® has the theme of Indigenous peoples. Ms Bull said that to be successful, any intervention measure should be developed by Indigenous communities and include a clear set of management structures and procedures, taking account of traditional values and culture. “A realistic and practicable set of objectives needs to be developed,” Ms Bull said. “The program needs to be well resourced with trained staff, development programs and adequate funding.” Ms Bull said in order to maintain any increases in health outcomes for Indigenous people, this should be done in conjunction with other health and welfare initiatives such as employment, education and housing. Research in the alcohol and other drugs field has determined that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more likely than non-indigenous Australians to use these alcohol and other drugs. Misuse of alcohol by Indigenous people is an area for considerable concern. Ms Bull said while lower proportions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population consume alcohol in comparison to other Australians, those who do drink are more likely to do so at harmful levels. “Community use of drugs, whether it is alcohol, caffeine, prescription medicines or illicit substances needs better understanding, education and awareness, and Drug Action Week® is about events that inform and involve communities, educators, individuals, the media and governments,” Ms Bull said. ”Drug Action Week® the theme days this year focus on: Monday, 18 June – Drugs in Sport and Recreation Tuesday, 19 June – Treatment Wednesday, 20 June – Prevention Thursday, 21 June – Indigenous Peoples, and Friday, 22 June – Drug Use and Mental Health “Drug Action Week® is for everyone working to reduce drug-related harm in Australia and provides us with opportunities to remind ourselves that drugs encompass more than just heroin and cannabis,” Ms Bull said. “This ADCA initiative aims to raise awareness about alcohol and other drug issues and promote the achievements of those who work to reduce drug related harm.” Drug Action Week® highlights today include – the launch by the Bass Strait Shire Council of its Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2007-2011 in Wonthaggi, Victoria; a new Peer Education DVD to be made available by the Young Nungas Yarning Together Peer Education Program in Angle Park, South Australia; a one-day alcohol and others drugs in the workplace forum at Southbank in Brisbane, Queensland; an Indigenous Peoples awareness gathering in Nowra, New South Wales; and the WANADA Aboriginal Network Awards in West Perth, Western Australia. ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS/ PRODUCERS Treatment Theme Day and State/ Territory Spokespersons A list of spokespersons who have agreed to take calls from media representatives during Drug Action Week®, particularly in relation to Indigenous Peoples, follows on the third page. A Fact Sheet on Indigenous Peoples, with contact details for more information on the subject, can be downloaded from the Resources page at www.drugactionweek.org.au. To see the complete National Calendar of Events, log onto www.drugactionweek.org.au/natcal.html. The Drug Action Week® television commercial can be viewed and downloaded by logging onto www.drugactionweek.org.au and going to Commercials – to listen to the supporting radio commercial, or to download it for use, log onto the following link http://pixelframe.net.au/DAW07Radio/DAW07.aif. Contact Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) For more information on Drug Action Week® log onto www.drugactionweek.org.au, or to speak with an ADCA spokesperson, telephone David Templeman on 02 6281 0686 (switch) or 0400 860 058 (m), or send on email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Contact details for Spokespersons 21 June 2007 Thursday, 21 June 2007 Theme – Indigenous Peoples Scott Wilson, ADAC Phone: 08 8362 0395 (w) Wayne Flugge, WANADA Phone: 08 9420 7236 (w), 0429 887 006 State/ Territory Spokespersons New South Wales – James A Pitts, Odyssey House, Ph: 02 9820 9999, 0411 144 796 Victoria – Sam Biondo, Executive Officer VAADA, Ph: 03 9416 0899, 0414 974 121 Tasmania – David Clements, Executive Officer ATDC, Ph: 03 6224 7780, 0427 551 600 South Australia – Lesley Edwards, SANDAS, Ph: 08 8231 8818, 0423 294 495 Western Australia – Ms Jill Rundle, Director WANADA, Ph: 08 9420 7236, 0407 055 513 Northern Territory – Paul Finlay, DASA, Ph: 08 8952 8412, 0438 887 394 Queensland – Dennis Young, Drug Arm, Ph: 07 3620 8800 Australian Capital Territory – Phil Lawler, ADFACT, Ph: 02 6292 2733, 0413 153 005

 

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