The South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services Inc (SANDAS) and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) will co-present a South Australian forum on methamphetamine use today (Wednesday 24 June) to support SA workers in the alcohol and other drug and related sectors.
The forum, at Flinders University, Victoria Square, will bring together renowned methamphetamine experts from across Australia to highlight and examine evidence based strategies which can be used to identify methamphetamine-related problems early on, respond to them effectively, and improve treatment efficacy and outcomes.
“With appropriate treatment, most people who develop methamphetamine problem can resolve it, reversing the damage and returning to fully functional lives,” said Michael White, Executive Officer of SANDAS, the state peak body for non-government drug treatment services.
“It is important that both users and workers have a sense of hope about the value and availability of treatment services.”
Professor Ann Roche, Director of NCETA, said the forum was a vital opportunity to boost South Australian care workers, as they come together to support each other and access the latest information on treatment options.
“It’s been a very difficult time for people providing services for those in the community who are using methamphetamine, particularly those clients and patients who are heavy users of ice,” said Professor Roche.
“The forum will provide a much needed reality check, giving factual information about trends and usage of all of the variants of methamphetamine, including ice – but in some ways more importantly, it will also help to rally the troops.”
Mr White said that by the end of the forum, he hoped workers would be more informed and better able to deal with some of the problems they are facing.
“We hope that by the end of the forum, workers who may have been feeling overwhelmed and disheartened will be reinvigorated and supported by coming together and sharing skills and knowledge with experts and colleagues,” he said.