1) The world’s second most popular drug – Tobacco!– Some good news! The Global state of Tobacco consumption is changing for the better. As you can see the US, is reducing smoking, and of course Australia has one of the lowest (if not the lowest) smoking rates of the OECD nations http://m.us.wsj.com/briefly/BL-263B-1434. However, what is bewildering to us, and any policy maker who cares to look, is that whilst we have driven down the rates of usage of this legal drug from around 75% of the population in 1945 to around 17% now, we are told, it is ‘impossible’ to reduce illicit drug use which has around 11% use at the moment? It is clear that, when governments/ policy makers, health practitioners and bureaucrats are serious, focused, and on the same page, culture change can begin. When the policy, message and practice have the same end – cessation/abstinence, we know that what follows will go a long way to produce that end. The real problem is the conflicting agendas in ideology, intent and consequently, policy. For a more in depth look into policy inconsistency go to… http://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/images/resources/pdf/Will-the-real-drug-policy-emphasis-please-stand-up.pdf
2) Cannabis Conundrum: When young people are not taught ‘how to think’, but rather encouraged to ‘run with what they feel’, the 140 character sound-byte of a ‘Tweet’ can push reams of evidence based data aside… we need to help them get it. Cannabis IS NOT YOUR FRIEND!
a) NIDA’s Dr Nora Volkow Discusses Marijuana’s Effects on the Brain, Body & Behaviour http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=RSDnLSU3owc
b) The World’s Favourite Drug Is More Dangerous Than You Think, UN Says http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/27/un-world-drugs-report_n_5534768.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
3) ISABELLA’S LIST – There are some developments and new resources to check out..
a) Check out our latest updates/data at http://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/index.php/dalgarnotice/isabella-s-list Alcohol & Violence, particularly against women and the sexual assault as a disturbingly and high proportion of that. Download the PDF’s and share it amongst your networks. Keep advocating for change. You will also note that warnings about F.A.S.D (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) is not getting through to female drinkers… This has to change. Please continue to advocate with your peers and networks on this. “The first 8 weeks of pregnancy is when all the organs are forming and the foetus is most vulnerable to impact from alcohol.” Dr M Ask.
b) We now have new Isabella’s List business cards, which we are happy to distribute to those who are ambassadors for Isabella’s List. Please contact I.L Coordinator, Mallini Richard for your cards – 1300 975 002 or admin@dalgarnoinstitute.org.au
Keep building – Generation Next needs proactive and protective boundaries.
