More than eighty percent of respondents to a Fairfax Media poll say they want a support group for families and friends of people with an addiction in Young.
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The Hilltops Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) wants to set up the support group after feedback they received from a community forum last Septemeber that focused on 'ice' use in the region.
Hilltops CDAT Chair Heather Ritchie said the poll was encouraging but more work needed to be done before a group could be set up.
"Obviously 84 percent of respondents in favour of the group being set up is a significant number at this stage," she said.
"It is good to know there are people supporting the need for a support group, however, the sample group needs to be bigger to get a true picture of the communities feelings.
"We would also, more importantly, like to know how many would use such a service so a follow-up poll would be good."
The latest NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data clearly shows that the scourge of drug use and supply, especially of ice, is rampant throughout rural communities.
Young had 13 incidents of dealing or trafficking in amphetamines in 2016 which is in line with an increase in amphetamine related incidents across the Riverina.
Cootamundra LAC Superintendent Christopher Schilt said police are getting on the front foot to tackle the problem.
Ms Ritchie said the Hilltops CDAT would base any support group that was set up on other successful models and would provide support for families touched by all addictions.
"Any support group that we would facilitate the development of would be based on other successful models that ensured the privacy and confidentiality of all participants," she said.
"The group would allow non-judgemental discussion and It would allow for participants to not only share their stories but have access to information and advice from experienced people in the field of dealing with family and or friends with an addiction."
Ms Ritchie said the four key objectives for the CDAT group for 2017 are to increase access to detox services for all people seeking treatment for alcohol and drug addictions, to establish a support group for family and friends of people with an alcohol and or drug addiction, to provide accurate and up-to-date information to all services who may encounter an individual with an addiction problem who wishes to be referred to the appropriate agency for help and to monitor the level and extent of alcohol and drug problems in the Hilltops region.
Contact email for those interested cdatyoung@gmail.com
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
