Rockhampton AOD Agency Forum report

Rockhampton 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 (usually in capital cities), a number of additional forums are now also being conducted around the country. 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 directly. They do however provide Council members with an idea of the major issues particular communities are facing in relation to drugs and alcohol.

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.

Rockhampton – Alcohol and Other Drug Sector Agency Forum

Approximately 40 people from Rockhampton and surrounding area drug and alcohol sector, including non-government agency representatives and government representatives, attended a forum hosted by the Council on Monday 27 November 2000.

Ms Price (ANCD Project Officer) opened the Forum and introduced Major Brian Watters (ANCD Chairman) and Mr Dennis Young (ANCD Representative).

Ms Price opened the forum and thanked people for their attendance, particularly those who had travelled from Mackay, Yeppoon and Gladstone.

Major Watters outlined the role of the ANCD, it’s key activity areas and membership. 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, a paper on effective treatments, heroin overdose and policy achievements, as well as the Rural and Regional Study Grants initiative.

The floor was then opened for questions and comments, with discussion facilitated by Ms Price.

The following themes were raised and discussed throughout the forum.

There is a very small number (4-5) of methadone prescribing Doctors in the area. Given the difficulties associated with getting GP’s to come to rural and regional settings (and staying), there are a small number of doctors in the area and of those, few are willing to undergo the requisite training to prescribe methadone.
Recruiting hospital pharmacists is difficult, as they are not well paid when compared to their colleagues in the private sector. There appears to be a shortage of pharmacists willing to work in rural/regional hospitals. This impacts on drug and alcohol service delivery in rural and regional areas.
There is a lack of detoxification and rehabilitation services specific to youth. If young people want to access detox and rehabilitation services, often they are required to travel significant distances and be separated from their family and other support networks. This leads to an increased feeling of isolation and decreases the chances of the person staying in treatment.
A perception exists that the criteria for the Diversion initiative in Queensland is too narrow (ie: first offence, cannabis only, less than 50g).
The main substances of concern are alcohol, cannabis and speed. Sniffing (chroming) is an emerging concern amongst younger populations (12-16). Reports of substances being inhaled include paint, glue and (to a lesser extent) petrol.
Alcohol advertising and its perceived contribution to the cultural acceptance of binge drinking was discussed. Sporting events in Rockhampton and surrounding areas are often community events where binge drinking is the norm (rather than the exception). Amongst young people in and around Rockhampton, there is a concerning prevalence of a ‘drink to get drunk’ mentality.
The main issues related to youth in this area appear to be:
- lack of services taking young people (12-15 years)
- inhalant issues prevalent in the young ATSI community
- Jack’s house (one of the few youth services) only operates from 5pm to 9am (overnight).
- Schools feel inadequate to deal with substance issues and teachers should be a target group for the Training of Frontline Workers initiative.
There are no dedicated detoxification beds in the Rockhampton hospital.
Funding for regional area services (through Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service – ATODS) was reported as remaining stagnant for successive years and with rising costs (petrol, wage increments, etc), this places increasing pressure on the provision of services.
Media sensationalising drug issues such as needle and syringe programs (and the unsafe disposal of equipment) is not helping the community understand issues and serves to reinforce prejudice, fuel hysteria and make addressing the public health issues more difficult.
There is some evidence to suggest that there is an increasing trend towards the abuse of benzodiazepines in the area, however it is difficult to track people who are "doctor shopping" given the person could be travelling between towns.

Also discussed at the forum, an innovative approach was outlined by attendees from Mackay. A group called the "Mackay Crime Prevention Partnership" – which was formed in 1997 as a pilot initiative of the Qld Government and Mackay City Council – is comprised of 15 members from the spectrum of organizations involved in drug and alcohol issues. Police, business, community, youth, aboriginal and islander, and government sector representatives aim to examine local trends in crime and related matters, and is a community voice on crime-related matters. Drug issues are seen as a major factor in the local area’s crime statistics.

The group reported progress in a range of areas including identifying major issues of concern, researching information relating to these issues and developing some strategies for action. This group regards drug use as a community issue and that approaches to this issue need to be sourced from the community – government and non-government, parents, citizens, peers, etc – to prevent drug use and assist those using to seek help.

More information on this group and its establishment, role, function and future plans can be sourced from Mr John Mallett, Mackay Co-ordinator, Mackay Crime Prevention Partnership (07 4968 4548).

27 November 2000

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