Breathing Easy
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"Chroming" -- the street name for inhalation of solvents, paints and glue -- and drinking alcohol are two drug habits most readily available and widely used by young people in experimentation.
Both inhalants and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, and when used to excess can contribute to high levels of violence in the community.
To help combat the problem, The Salvation Army Eastcare has developed a program to be known as "Breathing Easy - the Eastern Region Illicit Substance Community Safety Project".
This program was developed in response to the Victorian Law Enforcement Drug Fund, which provides seed funding for projects aimed to reduce alcohol and drug-related crime, and was given approval in December 2001.
With a focus on community safety, Breathing Easy will attempt to gauge the level of community violence, including personal and property damage, related to the use of alcohol and volatile solvent/inhalant use by young people.
Community-based strategies will then be developed in conjunction with traders, local government, schools and police, to respond to and prevent the problems associated with the use of these substances.
Using an evidence based approach, the program will develop resources in the form of a community development booklet and other targeted resources that will offer strategies, protocols and referral points to these groups, enabling the community itself to respond to these issues in the future.
The program will build on already developed systems and initiatives to address this problem, and will offer an offending reduction framework in order to promote safer communities.
Breathing Easy is being implemented in the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Victoria, including the municipalities of Monash, Knox, Whitehorse, Manningham, Maroondah, Boroondara and Yarra Ranges.
The Salvation Army Eastcare Network will be the lead agency in this collaborative program with the Eastern Drug & Alcohol Service (EDAS), which is a consortium of Boroondara Community Health Centre, Monash Community Health Centre and Eastern Access Community Health.
The Breathing Easy program is anticipated to commence soon.
For further information, please contact:
Anne Maree Rogers, Manager
The Salvation Army Eastcare Homelessness and Support Programs
Phone (03) 9818 4380
Fax (03) 9818 4395
Email:Anne_Maree_Rogers@aus.salvationarmy.org
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