June 19 - Drug Action Week: Treatment - Treatment for Addiction Works

Treatment works and is a cost effective and efficient means of addressing alcohol and other drugs dependence, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), Ms Donna Bull, said today. Launching day two of Drug Action Week® with the theme of Treatment, Ms Bull said studies show that treatment provides a range of benefits including – reducing and stopping the use of alcohol and other drugs, reducing criminal activity, improving physical/ emotional health, enhancing social functioning/ relationships, and improving employability. “Alcohol and other drugs dependence is a complex condition that has far reaching effects on individuals and communities,” Ms Bull said. “However, like other chronic conditions, dependence can be treated and with comparable levels of success can be achieved.” Treatment needs vary between individuals and can be generally grouped into five broad types such as self-help treatments, controlled use interventions, withdrawal treatment (detoxification) programs, maintenance of behaviour change programs, and pharmacological maintenance which involves the use of prescribed medication. Ms Bull said research into the effects on individuals 12 months after treatment found drug use had been halved, criminal activity had been reduced by up to 77 percent, employment had been increased and homelessness decreased, and physical and mental health had improved. “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.” Tomorrow’s Drug Action Week® highlights include – a service open day at the Wollongong Crisis Centre Drug and Alcohol Services Centre, NSW; a women and drugs family support morning in Gloucester, NSW; community health service drug education activities at Moe in Victoria; alcohol and drug information for the community at the Lower Murray Nungas Club in Murray Bridge, South Australia; an education display at the Carnarvon Boulevard Shopping Centre in Carnarvon, Western Australia; and a workshop for GPs, pharmacists, alcohol/ drugs and mental health professionals focussing on cannabis use, mental health and young people in Modbury, South Australia. 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 Treatment, follows on the third page. A Fact Sheet on Treatment, 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 Australian Alcohol and Drug 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 . 19 June 2007 Contact details for Spokespersons Tuesday, 19 June 2007 Theme – Treatment Professor Wayne Hall, University of Queensland Phone: 07 3365 5330 (w) James A Pitts, Odyssy House Phone: 02 9820 9999 (w), 0411 144 796 (m) 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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