The Narrabri Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) has firmed up plans for its activities over the coming year in its community drug and alcohol related awareness and response program.
Ms Cigdem Watson was reappointed as the chair of CDAT for a further term at the recent AGM.
Ms Watson has held the position since 2009.
“At the AGM we spoke about our future plans and our achievements over the past year” said Cigdem.
“The highlights were the Family Drug Support workshops on binge drinking and a community forum with an emphasis on ‘ice’ and other drugs.
“From there we have decided on plans we have been forming up for the year.
“First is a regional conference in Narrabri on drugs and mental health on March 29.”
Under age drinking will be a major focus. “We are heavily involved in the Stop the Supply program to stop the supply of alcohol to minors, people under 18” said Cigdem.
The campaign will go on until May next year.
“We will be doing this in co-ordination with the Narrabri Liquor Accord.
“Professor Aldo Spinner will measure the outcomes of the campaign.”
Research by CDAT has found that there is a lack of knowledge about the legalities and effects of supply to under age drinkers, Cigdem said.
“That awraness is important.
“The recent Narrabri binge drinking workshops revealed that 80 percent are drinking at alarming levels.
“We suspected a binge drinking culture but didn’t expect it to be at that level.
“So with these finding in mind Stop the Supply has been launched, in Narrabri and across the region.”
Cigdem said CDAT invited community members to have a say and be involved in the group’s activities and programs.
“We had the opportunity to be part of the program on stopping the supply of alcohol to minors and we did so, particularly in view of our findings at the local level” said Cigdem.
“We are hoping to start more educational support for families with a special group. Our aim is to be targeted and effective for families.
“There is a lot of support for the drug users themselves, but for families to survive intact they need the appropriate support so they know what they are dealing with.
“This can’t happen overnight but we aim to provide that awareness around the different problems we have in our shire. There is potential for such a support group, possibly education and awareness sessions for families. We want families to know that they can survive intact. There is hope.”
Cigdem said an evaluation after the recent Tony Trimingham community forum at The Crossing Theatre revealed that over 90 percent of attendees felt it was a very worthwhile session.
There were 120 people at the forum.
“And we have had a very gratifying response from school students who attended his talks at the schools in Narrabri and Wee Waa” said Cigdem.
“The students have approached us and said it was really worthwhile, the best presentation they had heard. We need more of that, they, said, and thanked him for coming to Narrabri.
“Everything we do is a marriage between local community needs and benchmarks” said Cigdem.
“There is hope and there is always a way forward with the appropriate support and awareness which we are aiming to provide through CDAT.”
CDAT is integrated into the new Narrabri Shire Crime Prevention Plan.
These developments follow the arrest of a 43 year old man after Barwon Local Police executed a search warrant at a Narrabri house on Tuesday.
A spokesperson at Moree police station confirmed the arrest of the man in connection with ‘an amount of methyl amphetamines’ or ‘ice’ found on the property.
The man was charged at Narrabri police station with a number of offences.
The Courier understands charges relate to possession and supply of a prohibited drug.
The man was reportedly released on bail and will appear in Narrabri Local Court in January.