With the growing drug problems in many communities holistic healers and counsellors are needing to educate themselves about services, intervention programs and health options that are available to support their clients or the town they live in. That is exactly what the Optimal Health Group (OHG) and Australian Anti Ice Campaign (AAIC) does. We provide a range of services and present public community forums to educate local communities on the harm associated with ICE and other drugs and what positive steps they can take to improve the situation.

Our aim is to empower local communities by providing sustainable resources and processes from prevention to intervention.

We begin with the public forum which provides cutting-edge education to raise awareness and insight for parents and members of the community. They are invited to be trained and these key members then come together to establish a Community Drug Action Team (CDAT) to tackle identified needs and gaps.

Examples are always a great way for people to understand the process and potential of what we are offering.  Here is what we did in the town of Yeppoon: firstly we had a forum and then invited members of the wider community to receive the dual diagnosis training.

This led to a two day Dual Diagnosis Training being delivered in Rockhampton two months later. Twenty-three people attended representing community and key service providers.

From those who attended the training selected representatives met the very next day to establish a working party in conjunction with the Primary Health Network. The following objectives were decided upon:

1. School based drug education (Grades 7-12), offered by AAIC (www.australianantiicecampaign.org.au) – 2 people from the CDAT will approach the high schools to enable AAIC to educate students and build on the federal and state AOD school drug initiatives through cutting-edge ICE education.
2. Family Support Groups - 2 people from the CDAT will expand and develop more family support groups throughout Yeppoon and Rockhampton through the resources that OHG and AAIC (nil charge).
3. Brief and Early Interventions - 2 people from the CDAT will promote the skills from the Dual Diagnosis Training to expand brief and early interventions available for drug users through existing self-help groups, such as AA / NA, as well as invite people from each sporting clubs, (such as coach), workplace and organisations to be trained to deliver brief and early interventions to drug users as they already have rapport and relationship with them. This will include encouraging 2 teachers, student counsellors, chaplains or student guidance officers to be trained.
4. Detoxification facilities (Detox) for Rockhampton / Yeppoon - 2 people from the CDAT will explore resources to address this high priority need as there is no detox for the region and people have to travel hundreds of kilometres north to Townsville or south to Brisbane.
5. Outpatient Treatment Services - 2 people from the CDAT will pursue resources to expand treatment services available to drug users from counselling to intensive day treatment.
6. Residential Rehabilitation - 2 people from the CDAT will pursue resources to expand residential rehabilitation available to drug users.
7. Transitional Housing - 2 people from the CDAT will pursue post treatment supported accommodation.

We are always interested in supporting more communities so feel welcome to contact us if you would like to discuss this community development strategy for your local area.

George Patriki
Optimal Health Group
www.dualdiagnosistraining.com.au