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Greens only Pollies to attend Byron Youth Drug and Alcohol Forum

Greens only Pollies to attend Byron Youth Drug and Alcohol Forum

Mayor Jan Barham and MLC Ian Cohen were the only local politicians to attend a community forum on Youth Drug and Alcohol, held on Saturday 15 March in Byron Bay. A fairly new group called the Rate Payers Association organised this event and managed to obtain first rate speakers. People who are interested and concerned about youth alcohol and drug use could see that Ian and Jan were putting a high priority on this issue at both a local government and state government level.



 
A survey of 420 students from a local high school reinforced police feedback about teenage problem drinking.  Sixty percent of the students said they used alcohol and one third of these teenagers gave indications on their survey forms that they could well have a drinking problem.  Some drink anytime or every day.  Some say that they drink lots or too much, or till they get drunk or unconscious, or as much as they can, or whatever they feel like.  Some drink the whole ‘sack’ (carton of cheap wine) or 10 beers, or spirits because they make you drunk faster.  One drinks because ‘I don’t know what else to do.’
 
Comparatively less students said they used drugs (one seventh) although some of their reported drug taking was also a problem.  Most of these teenagers also drank alcohol and some used it in combination with illicit drugs.
 

Very few of the drinking teenagers at this school have turned 18 years of age.  Where do the others get it? Presumably some of them drink at home or out with adults but this still leaves a lot of teenagers who are able to purchase alcohol in our community.

 

The community forum was an indication that there are lots of people in our community who care about these issues.  It will be interesting to see if there is the will to progress the good ideas put forward.  If we can save a few young livers and brains from alcohol poisoning it will be well worthwhile.

 

 

Sandra Heilpern

 
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