Government support alcohol and drug free youth concert

18/3/00

Contemporary youth culture with funky house, techno, rare funk and hip hop music is being supported by the State Government at the Perth Cultural Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Joint hosts of the smoke, alcohol and drug free DJ concert festival, PHAT 'n' PHUNKY, are the Health Department of WA and the WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office.
The outdoor festival is aimed at young people 14 to 24 years of age and is part of the Government's Youth Illicit Drug Education Project which is funded by Healthway under the Drug Aware banner.
Featuring popular RTR DJ's Dan Stinton and Dan tha Man, the concert is also sponsored by X-press and Zebra magazines, RTR FM, Kosmic, SKAWA and Fuel.
Health Minister John Day, and the Minister Responsible for WA Drug Abuse Strategy, Kevin Prince said the festival was a wonderful opportunity for Western Australian youth to have fun in an alcohol and drug free environment.
"The concert is a great example of our community providing an alternative and enjoyable form of entertainment for our young people," Mr Day said.
"We have made a good start in breaking down some of the negative stereotypes associated with young people. The youth of today deserve to be given the facts about drugs through programs like Drug Aware, so they can make informed and responsible decisions about their own well-being."
Mr Prince said the initiative was a good example of the Government reaching out to young people in Western Australia to deliver the Drug Aware message.
"We must use every opportunity we can to help young people become more aware of the dangers of drugs," he said.
The Youth Illicit Drug Education Project, which is part of the State Government's SaferWA strategy, focuses on forming partnerships with key stakeholders, including Local Drug Action Groups, Community Drug Service Teams, Public Health Units and Youth Advisory Councils.
The project aims to prevent illicit drug use by increasing young people's knowledge of the health and social consequences and harms of illicit drugs, and also the additional risks and harms associated with poly-drug use.
Other project strategies include skateboard competitions to be conducted at venues throughout the metropolitan area and attractive Drug Aware merchandise.
Mr Prince said illicit drug use was highest among 18 to 24-year-olds, and higher among males than females. But according to the most recent surveys, more than half of this age group had not used cannabis in the last year, 85 per cent had not used amphetamines, LSD or ecstasy, and 98 per cent had not touched heroin.
Concert organisers have 1,500 bottles of water to give away to festival-goers and have provided facilities for refills. They will also give away Drug Aware sunglasses, wallets, compacts, bubble pens and CD cases.
During the afternoon a major prize of a DJ starter kit, donated by Kosmic, will be presented to the winner of a competition managed by Healthway, X-press Magazine and RTR.
Media contacts:
Chris Morris ( Minister for WA Drug Abuse Strategy) 9220 5000
Carole Cowling (Minister for Health) 9213 6600