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Health Promotion Agency
 
ease-up
Newsletter July 2013  
 
 
 
contents
 
 
Welcome to the July 2013 issue of
Ease Up.
In this edition we have:
  • Six graduate from a new course for impaired drivers.
  • Like there’s no tomorrow – a new play about the impact of binge drinking in New Zealand.
  • HPA Resource of the Month – the June AlcoholNZ.
  • Details of three imminent seminars and two upcoming conferences.

As always, if you have an article you’d like to submit to Ease Up (maximum word count 300 words) or if you would like to highlight an upcoming event, we’d love to hear from you so please email enquiries@hpa.org.nz.

Kathy Compton
Editor

 
 
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Six graduate from new course for impaired drivers
Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace and Carl Hutchby CEO of Te Paepae Arahi at the graduation ceremony

Carl Hutchby CEO of Te Paepae Arahi (right), the alcohol and drug service that delivered the course, and Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace (left) attended the graduation and congratulated the graduates.

Early in July a special event took place for the six men on a 12 week alcohol course for repeat drink drivers. They all graduated - receiving certificates, and items from the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) ‘Say Yeah Nah’ campaign.

While drink driving was the entry point it was clear from the presentations the men gave at the graduation that the course had had an impact on their lives in other areas such as relationships, family, life goals and future employment.

The Ariki Te Whanau Mana course was run by Te Paepae Arahi Trust alcohol and drug service in Lower Hutt, funded by the Ministry of Health, and supported by the HPA.

Rawiri Evans, course facilitator says “The programme approached the local probation service and advised them how to make referrals to the service. We then had eight referrals in the first day. Six people were followed up with, and a start date for the first programme was set.

“All clients were screened using the ADOM tool at entry. We based our programme around the guidelines of Matua Raki, with our own resources and tools we had. The programme while Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based had a lot of AOD education included to support the clients going through it.”


He goes on to say the men had all met the criteria for the programme with all having more than three  DIC offences in their past, with the highest being 11.

A key observation was that the service met the clients’ needs to complete the programme, including providing a pick up and drop off service because supporting them to get to and from the course was critical.

Rawiri says “Support of the probation service has been very good from our point and was reflected at the graduation where two of these officers came to support their clients.”

Also at the graduation were whānau of those graduating as well as Ray Wallace, Mayor of Lower Hutt, Peter Kennerley from the Ministry of Health, and Phillip Parkinson, Central Region Manager from the Health Promotion Agency.

The Mayor congratulated the graduates and said he was proud to support the programme, which will be continuing. One of the men will continue with the course and the service as a volunteer, supporting subsequent course members.

Te Paepae Arahi Trust has also provided other services to these men to support them moving forward, which two have taken up.  The Trust intends approaching local judges so they can also refer people to the programme.

 
 
 
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Like There's No Tomorrow  
Like There's No Tomorrow

By the PlayGround Collective

Location: The Basement, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland

Opening night 27 July, 8.00pm

Closing night 10 August, 8.00pm

Booking: (09) 309 3395 or www.liketheresnotomorrow.co.nz

 

Thirty of Auckland's brightest young actors have been working collaboratively to produce a show titled 'Like There's No Tomorrow'.  The show, presented by Auckland Theatre Company in collaboration with The PlayGround Collective (Eli Kent, Eleanor Bishop & Robin Kerr) has been in development for a year and features real stories and differing perspectives contributed by the young people involved.

Like There’s No Tomorrow is centred on an after-ball party that shouldn't be happening. In the preceding weeks a drunken stunt by a student lost him his life.  As a result, all parties are off the table... except this one. The production explores how the students cope with the loss of their mate.

Due to the nature of the topic, Peter Thorburn, Educator and Counsellor from Abacus, conducted an alcohol awareness session with the performers and writers, and also organised youth line and other relevant services to be part of the session.

“When Auckland Theatre Company came to us with the idea to create a show set at a party and exploring young people and their relationship to alcohol we were excited, scared and a little bit stumped. What else could be said about this topic that's been in media overload? What needed to be said? How could you talk about parties without talking about every aspect of what it means to be young? So, with a large cast, we set out to make a big ambitious show that would capture multiple perspectives and conflicting feelings. Every single member of the cast has given so much of themselves, their stories, their peer group, their culture to this play and Like There’s No Tomorrow truly is a reflection of a collective group of people.”

The play explores the reckless abandon that drives young people and the impact of binge drinking in New Zealand and is recommended for 15 years and over.

 
 
 
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AlcoholNZ

The June edition of AlcoholNZ which contains evidence based articles on the health and social effects of alcohol is now available.

 
Resource of the month: AlcoholNZ

Featured articles focus on Cancer & alcohol and Diabetes & alcohol and The impact and harm of alcohol on children & young people
 
The Health Impacts of the way we drink in New Zealand article gives key findings from recent research from the University of Otago on the Alcohol-attributable burden of disease and injury in New Zealand: 2004 and 2007.

At the other end of the spectrum is The pleasure from alcohol article which explores the pleasurable effects of alcohol on the human body.  The June edition of AlcoholNZ can be downloaded from www.alcohol.org.nz/sites/default/files/alac-magazines/issues/AlcoholNZ_June2013-printable.pdf
 
or ordered online at www.alac.org.nz/research-resources/order-publications-resources-signs

 
 
 
 
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Upcoming Conference
School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction Research, Auckland University

Seminar: Alcohol screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment in medical settings.

Organisers: School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction Research, Auckland University.

Seminar description: A seminar by ASB Visiting Professor Thomas F. Babor, a world-renowned alcohol and drug policy expert from University of Connecticut, USA.  Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a comprehensive approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services for persons with substance use disorders. This presentation describes research on SBIRT conducted during the past 25 years, including instrument development studies, clinical trials and implementation research.

When: 5.30 - 6.30pm, Wednesday, 7 August 2013.
 
Where:
Seminar Room 730-264,
School of Population Health,
Tāmaki Campus 85 Park Road, Grafton 
Auckland.


More information:  www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/cfar/news-events/events.aspx#e3

Please RSVP to Nicki Paull, Communications Manager, Centre for Addiction Research, if you wish to attend this event: n.paull@auckland.ac.nz

 
 
 
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Upcoming Conference
The School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction Research, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Seminar: 'Treatment for alcohol and other substance use disorders – a public health perspective'.

Organisers: The School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction Research, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Seminar description: This presentation is by ASB Visiting Professor Thomas F Babor, a world-renowned alcohol and drug policy expert from University of Connecticut, USA.  He describes a public health approach to the study of service systems for people with substance use disorders. Such an approach is broadly conceived to include the consideration not only of specialised services for alcohol and drug dependence, but also of medical care and social welfare services that interact with and complement specialized drug and alcohol services.

When: 4.30 – 5.30pm.  Wednesday, 14 July 2013.

Venue:
Function Hall,
School of Population Health,
Tāmaki Campus
85 Park Road, Grafton
Auckland.

More information: www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/cfar/news-events/events.aspx#e3

Please RSVP to Nicki Paull, Communications Manager, Centre for Addiction Research,
if you wish to attend this event n.paull@auckland.ac.nz

 
 
 
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Upcoming Conference
The School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction Research, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

Public lecture: Alcohol marketing, the alcohol industry and their impact on binge drinking by adolescents.

Organisers: The School of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction Research, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

Lecture description: This presentation is by ASB Visiting Professor Thomas F Babor, a world-renowned alcohol and drug policy expert from University of Connecticut, USA.  The presentation reviews the findings of recent research on the impact of alcohol marketing on youth. It focuses on empirical research showing that young persons exposed to alcohol marketing initiate drinking at an earlier age and progress more rapidly to heavy drinking. The presentation concludes with a discussion of how corporate activity, from marketing to political lobbying, contributes to public health outcomes.

When: 5.45 – 6.45pm.  Thursday, 15 August 2013.

Venue:
AMRF Auditorium,
Grafton Campus, 85 Park Road,
Auckland.

More information: www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/faculty/cfar/news-events/events.aspx

 
 
 
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Upcoming Conference
Cutting Edge 2013

Conference: Cutting Edge 2013

Organisers: Hosted by dapaanz (Addiction Practitioners' Association)

Conference description: Cutting Edge is the national addiction treatment conference, covering alcohol, other drugs, problem gambling and smoking cessation.

When: 12 - 14 September 2013.

Where: Rotorua, New Zealand

Venue:
Rotorua Convention Centre
1170 Fenton Street
Rotorua 3010

Cost: Costs range from $246 - $505. Early bird rates apply until 11 August 2013.

More information: www.cuttingedge.org.nz

 
 
 
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Upcoming Conference
New Zealand Drug Foundation

Conference: The 2013 International Drug Policy Symposium Through the Maze: Cannabis and Health.

Organisers: New Zealand Drug Foundation.

Conference description: The 2013 International Drug Policy Symposium Through the Maze: Cannabis and Health will cover the real health, policy, and research issues around cannabis and health. It’s a must attend for all health professionals. Find out more at: www.drugfoundation.org.nz/cannabis-and-health/why-you-should-come

When: 27-29 November 2013.

Where: Auckland, New Zealand

Venue:
Rendezvous Hotel
71 Mayoral Drive
Auckland.

Cost: Early bird $650, full $800

More information: www.drugfoundation.org.nz

 
 
 
 
ISSN 2230–4215
 
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