ATODA Conference Report
Joanne Baumgartner
I attended this conference on Friday, June 21st as a
HCCA consumer representative. Having worked as a volunteer at the Karralika
Drug Rehabilitation Centre in the 1980’s, I was interested in hearing about the
progress in this area. I was also pleased to have the opportunity to learn
about how to discuss the issue of drugs with my family members and within the
broader community generally.
Online
Drug Safety and Counselling Methods
While the speakers’ presentations centred on their websites
and online counselling methods, there was also discussion of how consumers have
expressed a desire for more online information and counselling resources,
instead of needing to call someone or physically present to a counselling service.
The various drug organisations were certainly willing to fulfil those needs for
users and found that they had greater success with their clients using these
methods. However, there are some concerns with regard to the legal challenges
and reporting requirements for professionals providing services online.
Generally, the use of interactive web sites allows
up-to-date information to be provided to consumers in only a short period of
time. The services are available around the clock, so drug users are able to access
information about staying as safe as possible whenever they need to.
Tobacco
and Smoking
Professor Ron Boorland from the Cancer Council of
Victoria spoke about steps being taken to reduce smoking rates in his state. Electronic
cigarettes have been introduced as a means of quitting smoking, with a major
barrier being that people using this cessation method are experiencing conflict
with other smokers in the workplace, who have to go outside to smoke.
Of all the services presented at the conference, the
best drug treatment service seemed to me to be the Uniting Care Re Gen program
that utilises both online and face to face support with “non rest”
rehabilitation.
Joanne
Baumgartner
HCCA Representative
23June 2013
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