Easy drugs are the enemy

BUNDABERG people, look after your minds - that's the theme for this year's Drug Action Week as it emerges that it's the easiest-to-get drugs that are our biggest enemies.

Bundaberg Indigenous Wellbeing Centre alcohol, tobacco and other drugs prevention officer Lloyd Brooks said his organisation would focus on two main issues as part of the annual national awareness campaign - alcohol interactions with prescription and illegal drugs, and the female body.

Mr Brooks said it was important for women to understand that factors such as size, age and what stage they were at in their monthly cycle all played a part in the way they were affected by alcohol.

"Women often ask why one week they can keep up with the boys and other times they get drunk really quickly," Mr Brooks said.

"There are times during a woman's cycle when she doesn't produce as much of the chemical that breaks down alcohol."

Mr Brooks said the recent Seniors' Expo had also highlighted the issue of mixing prescription medication with alcohol.

"We found that a lot of people aren't aware that by taking alcohol with prescription medication, essentially they are mixing drugs," he said.

"It's important people ask their doctor or pharmacists if they can consume alcohol with the medication they are taking."

Mr Brooks said tobacco still remained the biggest issue, claiming the lives of nine Queenslanders every day.

As part of its work during Drug Action Week, the Indigenous Wellbeing Centre will provide information at a stand in Hinkler Central shopping centre from 9am-8pm tomorrow.

For Bundaberg police, the number of drug labs uncovered in and around Bundaberg remains a concern, with police uncovering about 30 labs since August 2010 - most of them for "speed".

Bundaberg Police Superintendent Rowan Bond said that while it was alarming, information form the public was helping them successfully locate labs.

"By providing us with information the public are helping to protect their own neighbourhood, these labs are very dangerous and highly volatile," he said.

Top 5 drug problems

1. Tobacco
2. Alcohol
3. Cannabis
4. Amphetamines
5. Prescription medication

Topics:  drug action week, drugs, education, health, indigenous wellbeing centre, lloyd brooks