By Brendan Rees
Casey Council will develop a Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) to help tackle drug and alcohol harm.
Council was announced as one of the successful applicants for a $10,000 grant from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to develop a LDAT, which will be formed in the second half of this year.
The LDAT will be consist of seven to 10 members from service organisations, specialist drug and alcohol providers, non-government organisations and community health specialist providers.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said the LDAT would draw on partnerships with organisations in Casey that are concerned with community safety and wellbeing.
“Some of the statistics for Casey are concerning,” he said.
“We know that one in five adults are at risk of short term alcohol-related harm, that Casey has one of the highest number of family violence incidents in the state and alcohol is a large contributor, and that the use and possession of crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) has increased over the past five years.”
Cr Ablett said the team would respond to the needs of the community.
“The Casey LDAT will be responsible for developing a Community Action Plan, in consultation with the Casey community, that will focus on building alcohol and drug protective factors in our community and preventing drug and alcohol related harms.
“A key objective of our Council Plan is to create an inclusive, safe and connected community, and a priority of Council’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-21 is reducing harm from alcohol, drug and tobacco use,” he said.
Monash Health spokesman Shane Butler said Monash Health supported programs that address drug and alcohol challenges being faced by our communities.
“We welcome greater discussion and community engagement on these issues, to support effective interventions and recovery from drug and alcohol misuse,” he said.
