Media release: Aboriginal drug and alcohol treatment experts call for action
25 June 2020 ADARRN (Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Network) is a group of Aboriginal Community Controlled Drug and Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation programs across Australia.
ADARNN Board Member, Allan Bennett, who is also the CEO of Orana Haven in Brewarrina (Western NSW), says, “Governments have been telling us what to do to fix our problems for too long, it is time that we had a real partnership with them that enabled us to tell Government how to work with us to fix the problems. We know, we are dealing with the problem every day”.
ADARRN would like to call on the NSW Government to start implementing the recommendations from the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug “Ice”. This report is in danger of being another report that gathers dust along with the previous reports about the problems of drugs and alcohol in Aboriginal Communities.
The Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies CEO, Larry Pierce, supports Commissioner Dan Howard’s call published in last week’s Sydney Morning Herald, for the NSW Government to respond to the Commission’s Report recommendations: that they should support new, additional services that are delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in partnership with Government.
ADARRN would like to see more resources given to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations who are experts in this area and we would like to increase the capacity of our sector to provide more culturally appropriate and effective treatment for all people who suffer from addiction issues including men, women and youth.
Photo and interview opportunities (TV, radio or print) with Allan Bennett from Orana Haven (in Brewarrina) or with staff or clients at The Glen (NSW Central Coast) are available upon request.
