News (Media Awareness Project) - Australia: Group To Tackle ACT Drug Use, Abuse |
| Title: | Australia: Group To Tackle ACT Drug Use, Abuse |
| Published On: | 2002-05-09 |
| Source: | Canberra Times (Australia) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-23 08:18:37 |
GROUP TO TACKLE ACT DRUG USE, ABUSE
The Legislative Assembly will establish a task group to tackle issues
surrounding licit and illicit drug abuse in the ACT.
Greens MLA Kerrie Tucker was successful yesterday in her call on the ACT
Government to set up a task group on problematic drug use, develop terms of
reference, plan to fund the group in consultation with the community and
provide a progress report to the Assembly by the end of August.
She said recent reports on drug abuse in the ACT's secondary schools and
the medication of pre-schoolers served to remind the community that drugs
"can and do cause problems depending on their use".
The task force would help the Government develop a social plan and would be
modelled on the 1999-2000 Poverty Task Group which adopted an open and
consultative process.
The challenge was finding ways to cut across agencies and services to
support people who misused drugs which was linked to a complex set of
issues such as illness, crime, depression, poor educational outcomes and
family dysfunction, she said.
TOORA Women Inc director Jacqui Pearce said the proposal was developed
during a forum in 2001 involving representatives from community groups,
support services, carers and the clergy.
She said the group could explore new drug treatment options, especially for
mothers and people with dual diagnoses - a mental illness and substance use
problem.
"It means a variety of stakeholders can come together and respond to the
use and misuse of drugs," she said.
"We have great treatments available in the ACT but there are areas of real
need."
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the terms of reference for the task
group would be announced next week.
Ms Tucker said she was concerned that Mr Stanhope's plans for the group
would not allow community input in developing the terms of reference. If
this task group were to be as successful as the poverty task group, the
community needed to be involved from the beginning.
"Community ownership of the process is essential in such an important
social issue," she said.
The Legislative Assembly will establish a task group to tackle issues
surrounding licit and illicit drug abuse in the ACT.
Greens MLA Kerrie Tucker was successful yesterday in her call on the ACT
Government to set up a task group on problematic drug use, develop terms of
reference, plan to fund the group in consultation with the community and
provide a progress report to the Assembly by the end of August.
She said recent reports on drug abuse in the ACT's secondary schools and
the medication of pre-schoolers served to remind the community that drugs
"can and do cause problems depending on their use".
The task force would help the Government develop a social plan and would be
modelled on the 1999-2000 Poverty Task Group which adopted an open and
consultative process.
The challenge was finding ways to cut across agencies and services to
support people who misused drugs which was linked to a complex set of
issues such as illness, crime, depression, poor educational outcomes and
family dysfunction, she said.
TOORA Women Inc director Jacqui Pearce said the proposal was developed
during a forum in 2001 involving representatives from community groups,
support services, carers and the clergy.
She said the group could explore new drug treatment options, especially for
mothers and people with dual diagnoses - a mental illness and substance use
problem.
"It means a variety of stakeholders can come together and respond to the
use and misuse of drugs," she said.
"We have great treatments available in the ACT but there are areas of real
need."
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the terms of reference for the task
group would be announced next week.
Ms Tucker said she was concerned that Mr Stanhope's plans for the group
would not allow community input in developing the terms of reference. If
this task group were to be as successful as the poverty task group, the
community needed to be involved from the beginning.
"Community ownership of the process is essential in such an important
social issue," she said.
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