DATES SET FOR DRUG ACTION WEEK 2012

Dates for Drug Action Week (DAW) 2012, the annual alcohol and other drugs (AOD) awareness initiative coordinated by the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) and supported by the Federal Government through the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), have been set.

With the theme of "Looking After YOUR Mind!" DAW 2012 is scheduled to run from Sunday, 17 June through to Saturday, 23 June.

"Following on from the highly successful theme of "Looking After your Mind!" used for DAW 2011, the focus again will be on the effects alcohol and other drugs can have on our minds," the Chief executive Officer (CEO) of ADCA, Mr David Templeman, said today.

"ADCA and the Australian Government take the challenge of alcohol and other drugs misuse very seriously. We know substance misuse has devastating effects on individuals, often with flow-on ramifications for families and communities when left unchecked."

Mr Templeman said ADCA was again calling on organisations from across the AOD, health, education, community, police, and media sectors to get involved by registering an event on the DAW website www.drugactionweek.org.au.

"We have seen sustained growth in activities over the past five years with a record number of some 800 events conducted in DAW 2011 to help to instil in the minds of all Australians the need to raise awareness around the misuse of alcohol and other drugs, including perscription drugs, and work towards solutions to improve health and wellbeing," Mr Templeman said.

"The challenges presented by alcohol and illicit drugs misuse should never be underestimated, and it is pleasing to note the proactive steps being taken at all levels of Government to initiate prevention and treatment programs aimed at sustained improvements across our national healthcare system."

While schools, police services, community organisations, and the media across metropolit and rural Australia jumped on board the DAW 2011 bandwagon, ADCA is aiming for a NEW event registration record of more than 800 in 2012.

Potential DAW event managers and coordinators will be able to register events on the DAW website at www.drugactionweek.org.au from 11 January 2012.

For all DAW 2012 enquiries, contact Brian Flanagan, Manager Strategic Communications, on 02 6215 9802 (w) or 0400 860 058 (m), or email brian.flanagan@adca.org.au.

23 November 2011