04 December 2005

Helping communities prevent drug abuse

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos, today announced funding and a new package of drug prevention programs and information for communities.

Mr Hatzistergos said the NSW Government was committed to providing relevant, credible and appropriate drug information to all communities across the State.

The package includes:

• a new version of the booklet Family Matters: How to approach drug issues with your family, and
• funding of $337,432 to three non-government organisations to deliver peer drug education to prevent harmful drug and alcohol use.

"Early intervention is a key step in tackling drug problems. I encourage all families to access this information to help them better understand drug issues and feel comfortable discussing these issues with their children," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"Peer drug education links people of similar gender, age or cultural backgrounds to talk about drugs and alcohol information to parents and reduce drug related harm," he said.

"It is human nature to turn to someone who is close to you, within your own social network, when you need advice and that's how peer education can work," he said.

Family Matters is designed to help parents answer questions when talking to their children about drugs.

The booklet includes information about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse, information about specific drugs (cannabis, ecstasy and amphetamines), tips for talking with your family and contact details for further information.

Family Matters will be available from community and health services, Community Drug Action Teams and local libraries.

The NSW Government is funding three peer education projects:

• Youth Solutions in Sydney's south west will receive $115, 970 to develop a peer education program for parents in the Macarthur region.
• The Red Cross, in a consortium with the University of Sydney Health Education Unit, will receive $134, 862 to expand their Save A Mate volunteer network and program, to include drug prevention in addition to first aid activities. This project focuses on young people across metropolitan, regional and rural communities and will involve TAFEs and universities.
• Manly Drug Education Counselling Centre (MDECC), in partnership with Ghinni Ghinni Youth Cultural and Aboriginal Organisation in Kempsey, will receive $86,500 to develop strategies for Aboriginal young people living in a rural/regional environment.

Youth Solutions CEO Ms Linda Goldspink-Lord said parents had a pivotal role in supporting and guiding their children to make safer life choices.

"Helping parents to have the knowledge, skills and support to do this is the aim of our program," she said.

• Family Matters is also available in 15 community languages - Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Macedonian, Punjabi, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.
• To order copies of Family Matters phone 02 9228 3731 or e-mail DrugAction@premiers.nsw.gov.au

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