Youth, drugs and community impact

John Rogerson

Australian Drug Foundation CEO John Rogerson will be the special guest presenter at a free information evening on how to cope with alcohol and drug abuse in the local community.
The event - Youth, Drugs and Community Impact - will be at Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday, April 18, at 7.30pm.
It is being held as a community service by the local Christian Business Men Australia.
Mr Rogerson will present a range of important information and strategies for educators, youth workers, parents, grandparents, mature young people and other concerned members of the public.
It follows a front-page article in the Castlemaine Mail last month (titled 'A mother's plea') in which a local woman told of her son's addiction to drugs and how it had affected his life and those around him. She called for greater awareness about the level of drug abuse in the local community.
Her plea generated a strong response from other parents in shire.
Alarmingly, the number of annual deaths in Australia from drug-related activity far exceeds the road toll.
The estimated cost of drug abuse to the Australian community is $6 billion. On a pro rata population basis, the cost to the Mount Alexander community would be $4.7 million.
The costs in terms of human suffering are enormous.
John Rogerson chief executive officer of the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) since 2008. He is passionate about developing a healthier drinking culture in Australia so that people can still have plenty of fun without all the harm caused to people by this area of drug abuse.
Mr Rogerson is also a member of a number of key advisory and lobbying groups, including the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol, Liquor Control Advisory Council (Victoria) and the Expert Advisory Group: Whole-of-government Victorian Alcohol and Drug Strategy.
His presentation in Kyneton will cover ADF's new SMS information service and also offer applicable information and strategies for concerned members of the public. All welcome.