Drug-Safe Communities
Where can you find a Drug-Safe Community?
Right now, there probably isn't a Drug-Safe Community anywhere in Australia!
The "Community values" that we aspired towards for decades have been eroded by the ever-growing intrusion of a Drug culture amongst the most naive and vulnerable within our social environment.
The concept of living within a safe community, such as that enjoyed by our parents and grandparents, has been destroyed by home invasions, car-jacking, violent theft, gang warfare, knifing and shootings. Most families live and sleep behind the security of windows and doors with bars that could equal any prison. The only difference today between a prison and a home is who has access to the keys.
What is a Community?
A Community is made up of many families, social and sporting clubs, schools, Universities, businesses and services such as fire, police, health, all controlled and guided by a Local Government or Council.
Alcohol & Drug abuse can be found right throughout our Community. Every area mentioned above has varying degrees of alcohol & Drug abuse within it. It is commonly recognised through research and study that 70% of people who abuse alcohol & other drugs are employed. Most only moderately but enough users are seriously affected and are a real concern for the majority of our Community who are the potential victims of Drug-Related incidents, whether through crime or through an accident caused by a Drug user.
Workcover statistics have shown that 80% of people seriously injured in drug-related incidents are the innocent bystanders who don't take drugs.
What can a Community do to become a Drug-Safe Community?
As a Community is a social all-sorts made up of different ethnic groups, sporting groups, religious, work-places, schools, universities and services it may seem difficult to do something as an individual to create a Drug-Safe environment. However it's actually a lot easier than you'd think. All it takes is for you to make a stand against drug use. This doesn't mean you should place yourself in a situation that could be unsafe or dangerous, however your opinion and your voice can be a powerful weapon in the fight against uncontrolled alcohol and other drug use within your Community. You can become a local hero and a crusader for Drug-Safe Communities. Here's how.
1. Government Contractors should be required to have a viable Drug-Safe programme for all staff
Write to you Local Member and insist they support a Drug-Safe Community project. Ask if Government contractors and winners of Government tenders are required to have a Drug-Safe Programme.
Point out that Australian Drug Awareness Week is in June and this is a perfect launch date to announce your Community is Drug-Safe.
2. One in five Local Govt. employees test positive to illegal drugs
Contact your Local Government (Councillors and Mayor) and ask for them to support a Drug-Safe Community Programme. (Google your Council website which will show contact details of all elected members of Council) Write, email, phone them all and ask them to support you Drug-Safe Community programme. Ask what they are planning to do for the Drug Awareness week. (If you need ideas and programmes that can be run call us at Drug-Safe Australia and ask us about "Know Drugs" community workshops and other project ideas)
3. 70% of Drug Users are employed
Introduce Drug-Safe Workplace programme within your community. Ask you employer to introduce a Drug-Safe Workplace programme to ensure the place you work is safe for you and free of drug users. To start a Drug-Safe Workplace programme go to www.frontlinediagnostics.com.au or click the link on the left hand top of our home page.
4. Create a Drug-Safe Schoolyard
Preventing school-aged children from experimenting with drugs of all types is a core objective of creating a Drug-Safe Community programme. Preventing students from experimenting with illicit drugs during their school years will go a long way to preventing them from becoming habitual users throughout their lives.
Research tells us that most long term drug users have their initial exposure at school and by a "friend".
A Drug-safe Schoolyard programme allows Communities to introduce an education workshop that addresses the physiological impact of drug use and introduce an intervention (random drug screening programme) programme that mirrors the growing trend in the Australian workplace.
If a school wishes to introduce a Drug-Safe Schoolyard programme click on the link (located on the menu above) that will guide you through the process.
5. Create Drug-Safe Sport clubs
Sporting clubs have become social centres for families and in particular our youth. To belong to a particular sports facility, no matter what code, has become a fundamental part of the Australian cultural heritage, enjoyed by the entire Community.
Sporting clubs have a responsibility to identify and maintain social standards of behaviour. This includes responsible serving and management of alcohol plus zero tolerance with regards to drugs, either performance enhancing or illicit.
A Drug-Safe Sports club will accept this responsibility and introduce an Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy plus a well managed education programme for all staff and players. A Drug-Safe Sports Club programme also includes a random alcohol and drug screening programme of all players. Players, (or their parent/guardian) coaches and other high profile club members sign an agreement to random screening as part of their enrolment or application to the club. The frequency of the education and screening programme can be established by the club as part of the club's induction and Drug-Safe Management programme.