By KATH GANNAWAY
A FORUM later this month at Millgrove will shed some light on alcohol and drug addiction in Upper Yarra, and on local services that can help.
Organised by SHARC Family Drug Help, Anglicare, Substance Use Recovery Eastern (SURE) and EACH (Eastern Access Community Health), the forum will see guest speakers covering a wide range of topics facing the community at a time when drug and alcohol addiction is a growing problem.
Katrin Oliver from SURE said for their program, a therapeutic counselling service, referrals had increased over the past three months after a slow start to the service a year ago.
“Part of that is trust, and a great awareness and acceptability that it is OK to accept assistance,” she said.
“We are not time limited; it’s about sharing the journey and that can be for a really long time,” she added, addressing the issue that has disadvantaged Upper Yarra communities before.
Jenny Syme from Anglicare said having services based in Upper Yarra was critical to their success.
“In the past, services came here then disappeared and people lost trust,” she said.
Guest speakers will include local workers from SHARC, SURE, Anglicare, a local GP and Victoria Police, and community members who have dealt with the issue as an addict, and a parent of an addict.
Community support groups and agencies will also be there to provide information on how to access local service support in areas including financial and community health services, AA, Alanon, Alateen and housing support.
Ms Syme said the forum would help local families affected by alcohol and/or drug addiction on any level to develop strategies to deal with addiction.
The forum is on Tuesday 22 October from 7.30pm to 9.15pm at Millgrove Community Centre in Cavanaugh Road, Millgrove.
For further information, contact Anne Iversen on 9573 1777 or Ms. Syme on 5967 1769.
