April 2004

New chair of drug prevention council

Internationally-recognised drug prevention advocate Dr Rob Moodie has been appointed permanent Chair of the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council.

Premier Steve Bracks said Dr Moodie, the Chief Executive Officer of VicHealth, would lead the Council for the next three years.

‘Dr Moodie has extensive experience in public health, HIV/AIDS and alcohol and drug issues,’ Mr Bracks said.

‘He is widely-respected as one of the leading thinkers in the prevention field and his contribution will help guide the work of the Council.

‘The Council will be able to monitor emerging drug issues such as a recent increase in the number of heroin-related overdoses and ongoing concern about underage drinking.

‘It will continue to be a credible source of advice as it looks at where there are gaps in our knowledge and understanding of drug prevention.’

Mr Bracks said a significant part of the annual $2.4 million budget would be used to commission research to develop and inform drug prevention policy so Victoria could remain the pre-eminent state in implementing best practice drug prevention initiatives.

He said the Premier’s Drug Prevention Council had been selected as one of four short-listed finalists for the Excellence in Prevention category of the National Drug and Alcohol Awards.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said Victorians were increasingly concerned about drug use and alcohol misuse.

‘The social cost of alcohol misuse in Australia is estimated at $7.5 billion per year,’ she said.

‘Through the Victorian Youth Alcohol and Drugs Survey data, collected by the PDPC, we know 94 per cent of young people aged 16 to 24 have tried alcohol and 49 per cent of this group describe themselves as regular drinkers.

‘Of the 16 to 17-year-olds surveyed, 25 per cent indicated they drink alcohol two to three days per week. This is not only a concern but it is also illegal.

‘We must not only discourage young people from drinking but we must also educate manufacturers of alcohol and regulate advertising and retailing of alcohol.’

Mr Bracks said new members on the Council included magistrate Cathy Lamble, Janine Kirk from the Committee for Melbourne, former journalist Frank McGuire and the CEO of the City of Greater Geelong Kay Rundle.