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Ref:13/2002
24
June, 2002
Adelaide Central Mission
is urging the South Australian community to support the drug summit,
by looking for the positive outcomes of the summit.
The
summit will focus on the use of illicit drugs and will give a focus
to substance abuse by young people, Aboriginal people as well as
the growing use of amphetamines.
It
is encouraging that the summit will be a week-long event which gives
adequate time for these complex issues to be adequately understood
and solutions debated. The strong focus on outcomes is particularly
encouraging. We note that drug use is widespread with 38% of the
population over 14 years having tried an illicit drug, 90% have tried
alcohol and 50% have smoked.
As
a community it is important that we support the summit, recognise
that drug use is widespread, and don’t allow ourselves to fall into
the trap of just talking blame and punishment. Constructive, positive
solutions are required.
Adelaide Central Mission
commends the Premier’s approach in the lead up to the summit. The Premier
has said “A key priority of the summit will be looking at ways to reintegrate
people excluded from society.” Mr
Rann has correctly identified the links between drug taking, isolation
and exclusion from society.
“Solutions
to the drug problem will only be found when we look behind the reasons
for drug taking and ask what is missing in people’s lives that drug
taking seeks to replace?” said Mark Henley who will be one of the
Mission delegates to the summit.
| For Further Comment | |||
| Mark
Henley Senior Policy Officer |
8202
5135 (w) 0404 067 011 (mob) |
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