United community approach sought in fight against drug abuse

9/2/95

Premier Richard Court has called on the people of Western Australia for a united community approach in the fight against drug abuse.

Mr Court said it was crucial for everyone to be actively involved in preventing the spread of drugs and to voice their concerns, experiences and suggestions for action to prevent the problem from escalating in WA.

The Premier said people would be given the opportunity to have their say on the issue with representatives from the Government Task Force on Drug Abuse now embarking on a State-wide series of public hearings.

"Drug abuse is not isolated to cities or towns, but is a cause for concern throughout our entire community," Mr Court said.

"It strikes at individuals, families and can have devastating social and economic repercussions for society as a whole.

"The public hearings will provide a forum for as many Western Australians as possible to contribute their views and to work together on finding a solution."

Mr Court said the program would be launched in Albany next Monday - the first of 13 planned hearings by the task force - with meetings scheduled throughout the State over the next two months at centres including Kalgoorlie, Carnarvon and Port Hedland.

Metropolitan meetings would be held at Fremantle (February 22), Warwick (March 1), Midland (March 15) and Perth City (March 22).

"I urge people to be actively involved in having their say at the meetings because future strategies on curbing drug abuse will only succeed with a unified approach by the community," the Premier said.

"The emphasis is to act quickly because WA is still better placed than any other State to implement a program that will minimise drug abuse and its effects." 

The Task Force on Drug Abuse, chaired by Mr Mike Daube, has been established to conduct a comprehensive review of all aspects of drug abuse in WA - including prevention, treatment, research and intervention.

Mr Court said that since the Task Force on Drug Abuse was established last November it had begun a widespread program of collecting data - which included approaching State Government, local government and non-Government agencies, meeting with a wide range of organisations and individuals, reviewing international findings, advertising for written public submissions and the opening of a 24-hour drug abuse telephone 'hotline'. 

"The launch of public hearings around the State is an essential part of the process of community consultation on what Western Australians perceive as our problems, priorities and appropriate action in tackling drug abuse," he said.