FORUM TO FACE DRUG ABUSE

Greens MLC Ian Cohen is organising a public forum in Byron Bay to look at
the problem of drug abuse. 'Confronted with the exploding drug problem on
the north coast', Mr Cohen said in a press release last Monday he was
becoming increasingly frustrated with the NSW government's slowness to
implement a detox unit or to deal with the drug issue at a community level.

'It is a sad reality that we have injecting drug use in Byron Bay that is
impacting significantly on our community,' Mr Cohen said. 'It is tragic
when it ends in death or the tortuous path of addiction and pain,
compounded by the suffering of friends and family who often feel
ill-equipped to deal with the issue.'

The public forum will discuss drug use, its effects on the community and
available avenues of help and support. The aim is to bring together
representatives of the health department, police, educators, social and
health workers. Mr Cohen said the forum would create an opportunity for
open discussion on creating community solutions and to find 'effective
means to deal with this complex problem'.

'My office has been informed of the growing number of young people using
heroin and amphetamines and the alarming fact that drugs are cheap in Byron
Bay,' Mr Cohen said.

'Something is going terribly wrong. We must look at the needs of our
community, especially children and their requirements for community
support, and then we can work together to create a more caring
environment.'

Sydney-based drugs educator Tony Trimmingham has agreed in principle to
attend the forum if a suitable time is available. Mr Trimmingham is the
founder of the Damian Trimmingham Foundation, a support and education
network named after his son, who died of a heroin overdose.

Mr Cohen said over 700 people a year die in Australia as a result of heroin
abuse. He said the Greens office had discussed the issue with the NSW
government and canvassed the possibility of funding for an education
program. 'The ALP has committed to a detox unit on the north coast but it
is realistically two years away from being operational,' Mr Cohen said.