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26 June 2008 New campaign for drug and alcohol awareness
NSW Minister for Health Reba Meagher today launched a new responsible drinking campaign as figures show that 140 young people are taken to public hospital emergency departments every month as a result of alcohol consumption. Ms Meagher said the figures showed children as young as 10-years-old have been treated for alcohol-related problems in emergency departments in the past year. "These figures should ring alarm bells for everyone in the community," Ms Meagher said. "The theme of Drug Action Week this year Alcohol is a drug too and our new campaign is aimed at reducing excessive drinking and public drunkenness by encouraging young people not to start drinking and promoting responsible drinking in those over 18. "The NSW Population Health Survey shows that risk drinking has decreased from over 40 per cent of the population in 1997 to 32 per cent in 2005. "These trends are good news and show that we are on track to meet our reduction targets, but more still needs to be done to reduce the harm being caused by alcohol use. "I am disturbed that so many young people are presenting to our emergency departments with diagnoses such as alcohol intoxication, alcohol poisoning and dependence. "That's why we're announcing the first phase of a three year Responsible Drinking Education Campaign." The three-pronged campaign will roll out next month and will focus on three target groups:
"These campaigns will focus on six geographic areas where they will be supported by local activities - including programs by Community Drug Action Teams," Ms Meagher said. The areas are:
Ms Meagher said the Iemma Government was committed to tackling the use of illicit drugs in the community and has invested more than $675 million in three dedicated Drug Budgets since the 1999 Drug Summit. "Since the Drug Summit, we have set a new direction in drug policy which recognises the complexity of drug abuse and tackles the problem on all levels," Ms Meagher said. "And we're already seeing the results, with the 2004 Household Survey showing a general trend of reduced illicit drug use across NSW." From 1998 to 2004:
"The Iemma Government is already operating five cannabis treatment clinics in Western and Southern Sydney, Orange and on the central Coast to provide support and treatment for regular users who are trying kick the habit," Ms Meagher said. "An independent evaluation has confirmed the clinics are working and are having a positive impact, with 50 per cent of patients giving up cannabis. "That's why I am pleased today to announce that a new clinic is being established on the state's North Coast." The Iemma Government is investing $68 million on drug and alcohol initiatives in 2008-09. "This investment is on top of the core funding already provided for health, law enforcement and school," Ms Meagher said. Strategies contained in the Iemma Government's Third Drug Budget, announced last year, will be supported by:
Ms Meagher said the Iemma Government is also committed to supporting parents with substance abuse issues and will invest $2.2 million to fund residential rehabilitation services specifically for women and children. "The Iemma Government is also rolling out a new child protection training program for the state's drug and alcohol workforce," Ms Meagher said. "The new child protection training courses will provide the state's drug and alcohol workforce with better skills for working with parents, families and children so that the best prevention and intervention strategies can be implemented." For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au |
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