Prevention Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse New Zealand, Counselling, Education and Prevention, for Alcohol and Drug Problems, Abuse and Dependency in New Zealand from NSAD, Alcohol And Drug Rehabilitation NSAD, NSAD - Providing Rehabilitation For Drug And Alcohol Dependency, NSAD Providing Counselling For Drug And Alcohol Dependency, NZ Drug And Alcohol Counselling, Alcohol And Drug Rehabilitation New Zealand.

One in ten of the population is in some way affected by alcohol and drug abuse, either by direct personal involvement or as a result of the involvement of a friend, family member or colleague.

Funding for alcohol and drug abuse counselling, rehabilitation and prevention currently falls into the Mental Health Portfolio, a portfolio which has much to deliver and inadequate funds to deliver it with. Therefore, although alcohol and drug abuse and addiction affects so many, funding is not able to reflect this.

So, NSAD works with private Trusts, corporates and individuals to raise funds and donations to develop a greater financial pool for education and other support, for alcohol and drug dependency.

Is alcohol counselling, prevention and rehabilitation work rewarding? Yes.

You can see the beginnings of an alcohol or drug addict’s recovery in their eyes, conversation and laughter. And in their passion for renewed health.

In 1954, NSAD made a life long commitment to lobbying for greater understanding of the issues and greater funding. We focus on four key areas - community, youth, workplace and health. And we take positions on what we feel to be critical issues in these areas.

Over the years, there have been many arguments for and against the use of and the decriminalisation of cannabis. And about its effects.

There is a clear need for change. However, NSAD does not agree that cannabis should be decriminalised.

This could give the false impression, particularly to young people, that cannabis is without danger. This is not correct.

However, NSAD do not believe that many otherwise law-abiding people in New Zealand should have a criminal record for being in possession for personal use. The organisation therefore recommend other options, such as diversion, be considered.

Through its operating company, Care NZ, NSAD has made a submission to Government about the legal status of cannabis use. The Committee involved is looking into how to minimise cannabis use and will consider the most appropriate legal status for the drug.

There are so many issues - youth drinking, dance culture drugs and brain damage among others. Recently dance culture drugs and speed have featured in the headlines.

NSAD is deeply concerned about the increased use of “party” drugs and their easy availability and therefore the use of these drugs. Particularly as there is now a new body of research, particularly related to ecstasy, which indicates probable long term damage. The other drugs, such as fantasy, special K and speed are also clearly dangerous.

It is critical that increased funding be made available for comprehensive education to reduce the harm caused by the use of these drugs.

The community suffers greatly from drunken driving, violence, aids, crime and, last but not least, ill health. It is critical to care for people’s health while they are still trapped by alcohol or drug abuse. There are many ways of doing this, needle exchange rooms among them.

A new concept, being piloted and researched overseas, is that of safe injecting rooms. It has been mooted that this could be an effective method of reducing the incidence of needle introduced disease and overdose. If this does prove to be the case, NSAD would support the concept as one methods of harm minimization.

However, the organisation would not support safe injecting rooms for drug addicts as a replacement for adequate and proper intervention, education and treatment. There is no replacement for this.

Workplace morale, productivity, absenteeism, accidental injury and illness are among the many areas negatively affected by alcohol and drug use and abuse, within and outside the workplace.

A directly related area, which is surrounded by some controversy, is that of random drug testing.

The Trust is adamant that when random drug testing is introduced as part of an overall treatment and education programme, its use in the workplace plays a really vital role. However, NSAD is also adamant that it should not be introduced as a punitive instrument. As such it will not be effective and usage is likely to go further underground.

NSAD believes that random testing, either for drugs or alcohol dependence and use, requires consultation and agreement from all parties involved, including the workforce, employer and unions.