International Family Drug Support Day - MEDIA RELEASE - Behind every drug user is a family

MEDIA RELEASE

"Behind every user is a family"

18^th January 2016

In 2012 the ABS reported that there were over 1,400 fatalities due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco).

All across the country families have been left devastated by these tragedies.

NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	SA	TAS	ACT	NT
485	317	292	170	98	40	23	9

The truth is that many of these deaths were preventable and the failure to do so has families having to now deal with ongoing grief and stigma created by loss of a family member to drug use.

Tony Trimingham - CEO and founder of Family Drug Support and organiser of the National Family Drug Support Day on the 24th February said today:

“Behind every statistic, at least ten other people are affected and in all our efforts to deal with Australian drug issues we have to make sure families are not forgotten. We have to ensure families aware that support is available and accessible.

Our Sponsors

Indivior

Indivior is the world leader in addiction treatment with 20 years of experience and a unique, patient-focused approach. We didn’t become the world leader in addiction treatment overnight. Our endeavor started small, with one singular focus – to intimately understand the journey of individuals suffering with addiction. People with addiction are often stereotyped and discounted, creating an environment where many are under-diagnosed, undertreated and under-supported. They’re often unaware of their treatment options, have limited access to treatment, or simply don’t seek it out because they’re afraid of being stigmatized.

Mundipharma

Mundipharma provide healthcare enabling Australians to live well and age well. Mundipharma is committed to providing products which give people the best possible quality of life. This starts with a vision: a trusted healthcare product for every Australian. Building on our strong network of stakeholders, we want to continue supporting healthcare professionals and healthcare consumers with innovative and effective products to meet their needs. But we are driven by more than just a vision. Our relationships with patients, carers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and distributors are at the centre of how we operate. Our five core values guide every decision we make and define who we are as an organisation.

Odyssey House NSW

Odyssey House offers Community Services as well as Residential Services, as well as the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program. Our Community Services include Alcohol and other drug counselling, mental health services as well as family and parent support programs in locations across Sydney. Our Residential Services include withdrawal and residential rehabilitation programs, mental health programs, a Parent’s and Children’s Program, gambling and specialised group services, as well as numeracy and literacy education and family/relationship issues; domestic violence and other trauma, parental drug misuse; and physical and mental health problems.

Damien Trimingham Foundation

The Damien Trimingham Foundation is a not for profit foundation established in 1997 after the death of Damien Trimingham. It’s primary aim is to acquire and distribute funds to organisations that support efforts to improve the lives of families affected by alcohol and other drugs.

Queensland Mental Health Commission

Our vision: Queenslanders working together to improve mental health and wellbeing. Our role is to drive ongoing reform towards a more integrated, evidence-based, recovery-oriented mental health, alcohol and other drug service system in Queensland.

Victorian Alcohol & Drug Association

VAADA’s purpose is to ensure that the issues for people experiencing the harms associated with alcohol and other drug use and the organisations that support them are well represented in policy and program development and public discussion. VAADA’s membership comprises agencies working in the AOD field, as well as those individuals who are involved in, or have a specific interest in, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation or research that minimises the harms caused by alcohol and other drugs (AOD).