TOWNS IN FOR A SHOCK

No Drug Problem, Say Residents, But

THE results of a survey in Culcairn and Holbrook which showed
participants predominantly thought neither town had a drug problem
was a major shock, the chairman of the Culcairn Holbrook Youth
Action Team, David Dunbar, said yesterday.

The team is presently presenting the results of its research project
to meetings in both towns with guest speakers providing details
about the types of drugs available in the region and strategies
parents might adopt to help reduce the risk of their children
using and abusing drugs.

Mr Dunbar, a Culcairn pharmacist, said those survey respondents who
denied the existence of a drug problem in either town were ignoring
crime statistics from the region related to drug use.

"Over the past five years in Holbrook and Culcairn there have been
327 criminally recorded drug and liquor offences," he said.

"There are many others who do not engage in criminal activity but
are regularly using alcohol and other drugs in our towns."

He said acceptance of the problem was an important step.

"As with any social issue, recognition of the problem is the first
step toward possible change," he said.

"The community and each individual member of it must decide whether
they accept the statistics showing there is a drug and alcohol
problem in our community and whether or not they are comfortable
with local drug and alcohol misuse.

"Id like to think Im the only person in town selling drugs but the
truth is Im not."

The teams research project, undertaken by Serena Kent over three
months, was completed in December.

It focused on parents of pre-school and primary school aged children
and aimed to identify strategies that could motivate parents to
attend anti-drug information events.

Miss Kent said the results indicated an overwhelming amount of
participants were not sure if there was a drug problem in the area
and consequently could see no reason to implement intervention
programs to their children.

The regions drug and alcohol liaison worker, Adelle Kennedy, said
she had clients in the area with drug problems who purchased drugs locally.

"Drugs may not be as big a problem in rural communities as in the
cities but they are still a problem and parents should not assume
living in a small town will ensure their children will be safe from
drugs," Ms Kennedy said.

The team has already held a meeting in Holbrook this week and will
hold a second meeting looking at the research results on Wednesday,
February 22 at the Culcairn Public School from 7.30pm.

l For details of the teams activities contact Mr Dunbar on (02) 6029
8917 or Ms Kennedy on (02) 6029 8917.