THE Hastings Community Drug Action Team (HCDAT) is inviting local residents to take part in an upcoming community forum designed to encourage open and honest conversations about alcohol and other drug use.
HCDAT Chair Veronica Godfrey said the event, ‘You CAN Ask That: Drugs and Alcohol’, aims to create a safe and respectful space where people can ask the questions they may have never felt comfortable raising before.
Since 1999, Community Drug Action Teams across NSW have been working to build safe, healthy and resilient communities by preventing, responding to and reducing the health, social and economic harms associated with alcohol and other drug use.
“‘You Can Ask That’ is important because it creates a safe and respectful space for honest conversations about alcohol and other drug use – topics that are often surrounded by stigma or misunderstanding,” Ms Godfrey said.
“By encouraging open questions and real dialogue, the session helps break down barriers, builds understanding, and supports a more compassionate and informed community.”
The free community event will be held at the Wauchope Senior Citizens Centre on Thursday, 18 June, with doors opening at 4.30pm and the panel discussion running from 5pm to 7pm, followed by supper.
Community members will hear directly from a panel featuring people with lived experience alongside clinical experts.
“The ideal attendees are anyone in the community who is curious, concerned, or wanting to better understand alcohol and other drug use,” Ms Godfrey said.
“This includes families, young people, community members and workers across health, education and social services.”
HCDAT is also hosting a free community workshop, ‘Recognising and Responding to Alcohol and Other Drug Use’, on Wednesday, 24 June at Roto House, Port Macquarie.
The practical full-day workshop will focus on building participants’ skills and confidence to identify signs of alcohol and other drug use and respond in a supportive and effective way.
Open to community members, health professionals, educators and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge, the workshop includes morning tea and lunch. Places are strictly limited to 25 participants and early registration is encouraged.
Tickets for the forum and registrations for the workshop are available through Humanitix.
By Sis HIGGINS
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