Karratha residents urged to support establishment of local drug action group

29/6/98

The Minister for Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy, Rhonda Parker, has today urged the people of Karratha to support the establishment of a local drug action group to combat drug abuse in the community.

Visiting Karratha today as part of a regional Cabinet meeting, Mrs Parker said the problem of drug abuse required a whole of community response.

"It is difficult to measure the extent of drug and alcohol abuse in remote areas like Karratha," Mrs Parker said.

"However, it is recognised the people needing help are not restricted to the metropolitan area and the State Government is committed to assisting these people."

Last year the State Government announced the establishment of a new Community Drug Service Team for the Pilbara region.

The team is one of 10 established by the State Government throughout WA, with six in country regions and four in the Perth metropolitan area.

The Pilbara Community Drug Service Team is managed by the experienced community service provider, the East Pilbara Health Service based in Port Hedland. The team has people working in Karratha, Tom Price, Newman and Hedland.

"The team delivers alcohol and drug counselling and outreach services for youth, adults and families and represents a significant expansion of these types of services for Karratha," Mrs Parker said.

"It will also ensure that for the first time the surrounding areas of Tom Price and Paraburdoo will receive services of this kind."

Mrs Parker said an important area of work for the Community Drug Service Team was the prevention of drug abuse.

"Since its establishment the team has focused on early intervention and family support. It has also provided much needed support to schools dealing with drug abuse incidents so that problems can be addressed before they escalate," she said.

The Minister said the Community Drug Service Team was working closely with the community to form Local Drug Action Groups in Pilbara towns - a concept which had already proven extremely successful in other parts of the State.

Local drug action groups comprise members of the community who work with police, local schools and businesses to help prevent drug abuse in their area.

Mrs Parker said the State Government recognised that Community Drug Service Teams alone would not solve all drug and alcohol problems but believed they would help support the effort that was required as part of a whole of community approach.

The co-ordinator of the Community Drug Service Team in the Pilbara, Lyn Harding, can be contacted for further information on 08 91 402 377.

Media Ccntact: Donna Cole 9481 7810