Local advocates say: Bring the Drug Summit to Lismore
Emma Maiden, General Manager External Relations and Advocacy at Uniting NSW.ACT said: “The NSW Drug Summit has finally been announced for December 2024, including two days of regional forums slated to take place in October.
“We are particularly pleased to see a focus on the experiences, needs and voices of regional communities when it comes to this issue.
“Lismore is a region that deserves a seat at the table.
“The people of Lismore and the surrounding regions are experiencing significant challenges since the floods of 2022, which have exacerbated existing issues such as mental health, precarious housing, and drug use.
“This is a dynamic, diverse and strong community in active recovery who deserve to be able to share their stories and ideas for meaningful solutions as part of the 2024 Drug Summit.
“There is already an established group of local leaders who represent community services, harm reduction, Council, faith, health and legal sectors. They are working together to campaign for more AOD and harm reduction services for Lismore and they feel strongly that it should be considered as a location for one of the Drug Summit regional forums.
“This drug summit is a way of shining a spotlight on the issues not only in Lismore, but across all regional and rural communities,” Emma said,
Tahlia Poulston, Coordinator, Disaster Recovery Support Service, Far North Coast Regions said: “I have worked in the Community Service sector since 2016. During this time, I have witnessed first-hand the detrimental effects that criminalisation of drug use has on an individual.
“It’s well documented that people who have been charged with drug use find it harder to find employment, establish positive connections and relationships and find stable accommodation.
“It is also well documented that a traumatic event will exacerbate use, due to the individual self-medicating to try and cope with such an event.
“The Lismore Flood event of 2022 has exacerbated both personal drug use and homelessness. A drug summit in Lismore would highlight the area’s response to the floods and the need for more services in the area.
“It is also an opportunity to be able to study the effects that a natural disaster has on drug use, mental health and homelessness. To not respond holistically and in a timely manner would be of great detriment to many individuals and the community as a whole,” Tahlia said.
Dash Boyce, Coordinator, Recovery Support Service said: “Through my work with Uniting’s Recovery Support Service, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of the floods on our community in Lismore. The trauma and displacement have exacerbated preexisting issues, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support.
“Many of our clients struggle with addiction and maladaptive behaviours, and while current services offer some relief, there is a dire need for more resources. Hosting one of the days for the 2024 NSW Drug Summit in Lismore would be a powerful step towards providing the essential programs to support our most vulnerable community members,” Dash said.
“As a Doctor working in primary care, I cannot think of a better place to host the NSW Drug Summit than Lismore. The passion for change, on the back of challenging times in the region, has never been higher. The Northern Rivers of NSW is home to a host of exceptional people, teams and organisations working tirelessly in the field, often with minimal resources. These people show up tirelessly, day after day – rain, hail (flood, pandemics, fire) or shine to reduce the harm that comes to people who use substances and advocate for them in systems that are often not designed for them.” Dr Bronwyn Hudson, Specialist Addiction Medicine Physician said.
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