Dubbo AOD Agency Forum report

Dubbo AOD Agency Forum report

Background

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) has commenced a process whereby it holds a local agency forum, in conjunction with its meeting in each State and Territory. Given the Council only meets 4 times a year, a number of additional forums in rural and regional Australia are now also being conducted. These forums form part of the Council’s strategy to fulfil its role of representing the views of non-government and community-based organisations working in the drug and alcohol field.

It should be noted that all the issues raised at the Forums are not necessarily areas that the Council will be able to address. They do however provide an important touchstone for the Council's members.

The Council also intends to prepare a report on the issues affecting the alcohol and other drug sector at the completion of its rural and regional consultation forums in December 2000.

Dubbo – Alcohol and Other Drug Sector Agency forum

Approximately 20 people from the Dubbo and surrounding area drug and alcohol field, including non-government sector and government representatives, attended a forum hosted by the Council on the 1st of November 2000.

Mr Gino Vumbaca (ANCD Executive Officer) opened the Forum and introduced Major Brian Watters (ANCD Chairman) and Mr Wesley Noffs (a NSW based ANCD Representative).

Major Watters outlined the role of the Council, it’s Key Activity Areas and the membership of the Council. Major Watters also stressed the importance of working in partnership across sectors and the unique position of the ANCD being at the highest level of policy making. Major Watters concluded by outlining the recently commissioned projects by the ANCD such as indigenous programs research, rural study grants and papers on effective treatments, heroin overdose and policy achievements.

The floor was then opened for questions and comments, with discussion facilitated by Mr Vumbaca.

Forum participants provided the following background information on the alcohol and other drug scene in Dubbo and surrounding areas:

Alcohol is a major concern for the sector.
There are high levels of concurrent alcohol and benzodiazepine use in the community.
Some youth are experimenting with some unlikely and potentially dangerous flora and fauna (details are deliberately not provided here to avoid potential promotion of some practices).
Local research conduct with general practitioners reveals that they deal primarily with alcohol and tobacco issue.
Cannabis is seen as a major problem in the area given the high level of usage, particularly by youth.
There have been some reports of petrol sniffing in the more isolated areas surrounding Dubbo.

The following themes were raised and discussed throughout the forum:

Whilst a close relationship exists between some pharmacists and doctors, it would be beneficial in identifying benzodiazepine problems (eg. doctor shopping) if these relationships received greater support and assistance.
There needs to be more research into the needs of rural youth. Issues such as the importance of role models, the high influence of peers and family, the high levels of boredom and the need to learn how to have fun without using drugs require further investigation.
The role of GPs in rural communities is considered vital. They are often the first point of assistance and need to be skilled to undertake brief intervention and motivational interviewing - which are the areas they tend to lack confidence. Closer links and support from local drug and alcohol services with GPs should be encouraged. It was further recognised that the needs and circumstances are often the same for rural pharmacists.
Campaigns to educate and inform the public can be effective but they require a strong local input and ownership. National campaigns, particularly through mass media tend to be dismissed as city issues and are seen to be too fleeting in duration - local issues need local campaigns that are long term in nature and appropriately resourced. The success of drink driving campaigns was discussed at some length and there was agreement that the deterrent effect of penalties was probably an important factor, however the long term and sustained promotion of the campaign was seen as being the most critical factor in its success in turning around a dangerous social norm.
It is important to recognise that rural and regional areas require their own strategies. It is not feasible to apply city-based strategies to the rural and regional setting. The development of a rural and regional drug and alcohol strategy was recommended.
The role of local government in ensuring the success of local drug action teams and effectively dealing with local issues was highlighted. More encouragement for local government to become involved in drug and alcohol issues was required.
More work in attracting a greater number of pharmacists to dispense methadone in rural areas was seen as an important initiative.
Some concern was expressed at the role of local media, as it tends to take a very sensationalist approach to illicit drug use (even minor cases) whilst significantly under reporting the level of alcohol related issues and problems faced by the community. This concern was further heightened given the reliance of many in the local community on local media (especially print and radio) for their information. The focus of illicit drug related crime was also seen as being possibly counter-productive as all drug users were being portrayed as criminals. A greater focus on the health and social problems faced by many drug users would provide a more accurate picture for the community.
Dealing with dual diagnosis issues (mental health and substance use problems) is a real problem for rural and regional communities. A greater level of co-operation between mental health and drug and alcohol services is required but often there is a lack of expertise to effectively deal with the clients.
Whilst in general cannabis was viewed as being a major problem, there was particular concern expressed about the mixed messages surrounding cannabis and whether it is a harmful drug or not. A perceived increase in the level of drug use and driving appeared to be an unfortunate result of this confusion.
The need for up to date and available communication and IT resources was seen as critical to keeping the rural and regional sector informed on current issues.

1 November 2000

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