Where is the War on Drugs?

12 months ago my youngest daughter overdosed on a cocktail of prescription medicines and alcohol. Fortunately she was taken to a hospital and had her stomach pumped. Last night the same daughter took a cocktail of prescription medicines, alcohol, and illicit drugs at a nightclub. Again fortunately she is okay!

All this is a harrowing experience for all parties, but it is even worse because I live in Canberra and my daughter lives in Perth, which is 3,900 kilometres away. My daughter phoned me at 2:00 am. She was alternating between crying, being aggressive and complaining she was cold or hot. She was upset because she was lost, and had no idea where she was or how she got there (she was in a park near the river). She was obviously under the influence of drugs and alcohol. I can’t begin to describe how helpless I felt, or my worry. I kept her on the phone as long as I could and rang the police on the other phone. It was a hopeless situation for everyone!

I am the immediate past Administrative Director for the ACT Drug and Alcohol Foundation (ADFACT) . ADFACT aims to reduce the impact of substance use in the community through treatment, education, support and research. Like many philanthropic organisations it struggles for funding - supporting drug addicts and alcoholics just isn’t sexy! Drug addicts and alcoholics come from all walks of life, and their addictions have far-reaching consequences into their families, their workplace, and into the community. These organisations need our support.

Unlike the so-called ‘War on Terror’ there is no ‘coalition of the willing’ to fight a ‘War on Drugs’. Yes there are efforts but it seems to me at the grassroots it is not coordinated. I would like to see half the money that is being spent on the ‘War on Terror’ to be spent on a ‘War on Drugs’. Here in Australia the occasional media campaign against drugs is obviously not working – I know my daughter is the case in point! I challenge our political leaders to take this problem seriously and help those organisations who are at the frontline of despair. Our youth matter - they are our future!

Regards, Graham.