In the lead-up to NAIDOC Week 2024, Drug ARM’s Winangalabaa centre hosted a dedication ceremony. Guests were met by blue skies, a warm Welcome to Country, three Aunties and the local Drug ARM team, who do so much for their community.
At Drug ARM, we still see men adhering to stigmas, and the attitudes that they don’t need to get regular health checks or treatment – that they can push on, deal with it later, or just don’t want to know about it. This Men’s Health Week (June 10 to 16), we turn the spotlight on men’s health, and the courage it takes to call a support service like Drug ARM.
One of our longest-serving, current Street Outreach Service volunteers reflects on the changes she sees in regular patrons, following persistent check-ins with them. Interested in volunteering? Get in contact with us.
May 2024 marked 35 years of Drug ARM’s Street Outreach Services. When speaking to one of our early patrons, we found the service had left a lasting impression on him. So much so, he’s now an outreach volunteer. This is Joseph’s story of receiving and giving.
Pill testing has commenced in Queensland, offering a harm reduction service for those intending to use drugs. However, the intervention is not a silver bullet when it comes to safety.
Being stopped in traffic can be enough to trigger a heightened response. How to deal with such reactions, and how to cope with other life stresses, are just some of the strategies our clients are learning, as part of our Day Program. Our Day Program is a free, comprehensive alcohol and other drug treatment program. For some, it’s the first lifeline they’ve ever been thrown.
When someone you love has a problem with alcohol or other drugs, it can be tough. Knowing what to do and say, how to set boundaries and manage self-care are challenges which don’t need to be faced alone. Hear from two Drug ARM clients about their experiences supporting loved ones.
The cost-of-living crisis and other life stresses are hitting Queensland families hard, and unfortunately, alcohol continues to be a way for many parents to cope. Yet this only leads to more issues. We only have to look at the experience of one of our rural-based clients to see how this downward spiral can happen.
When our former client couldn’t renew his script for pain relief, he started to stress. At that point, he realised he had a dependency problem. Pharmaceutical dependency is a serious problem that many confront. A series streaming on Netflix called Painkiller shows just how serious it can be.
