Online eye-openers
Wednesday, 16 June 2010.
Originally from express article 16 June 2010
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| Diana Rands from CADS. |
For anyone who is considering the effects of alcohol and other drugs on themselves or their loved ones – a great place to start is the internet.
On the 18th May ALAC launched a cool new interactive site www.likeadrink.org.nz aimed at teenagers and young adults who are worried about their drinking.
I think it is a great site to check out, with 10 young people telling their stories about what alcohol has meant to them, as well as links to a range of subjects and resources. It is designed so that people can work through issues in the privacy of their own computer. It is engaging, stimulating and accessible – nice work ALAC!
The NZ Drug Foundation has also developed some impressive sites – they are: www.drughelp.org.nz and www.methhelp.org.nz. They follow a similar format including video clips of people telling their stories. The great thing about it is that it provides information and resources for people considering their own use and their families/loved ones.
ALAC has another site developed in conjunction with their ‘ease-up’ promotion at: www.hadenough.org.nz. It has information and advice for employers, hosts, drinkers and their significant others.
For those of us who are interested in keeping up with the raging debate over the Law Commission's recommendations for changing liquor (and drug) laws in New Zealand check out www.talklaw.govt.nz where you can view a range of opinions, and for some excellent current research and links to other sites go to ourturn2shout.blogspot.com.
It is excellent to see that New Zealand is developing our own online sites. A fantastic youth site from the UK, I have come across is: www.talktofrank.com. It is gorgeous and an amazing resource when it comes to drug information, and advice. A great local site for young people is www.urge.co.nz.
An American site that provides ongoing information and support for people wanting to change their addictive behaviours is: www.smartrecovery.org/intro/. It offers online mutual help groups and what they call SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training). It promotes itself as an alternative to 12-step groups (e.g. AA, NA). I found the American presenter a tad off putting – but it seems to have made a difference for many people world wide!
The European equivalents are: www.lifering.eu and www.sobriety.org. They both offer online groups and inspirational stories from people who want to live without using alcohol or other non-medically advised drugs.
For people who are considering going on the Auckland Opioid Treatment programme, or who would like to withdraw from methadone a good site for you is: www.methadonesupport.org. My one piece of advice with this site is to remember to scroll down. I was busy waiting for some thing to appear, and it was just further down the page! Once again it is a great source of people's own stories information, links and resources.
And last but not least is the online help for withdrawing from Benzodiazepines’ - benzoblunder.blogspot.com.
The wonderful thing about all these sites is that they are so easily accessed. Anyone can check them out, whether it is to check out your own alcohol or other drug use, get support for your own change process, or to find out ways to raise the topic with people you are concerned about. I recommend you have a look!
When you’re ready to talk about your alcohol or other drug use, or you’re concerned about someone else contact CADS on 845 1818 or www.cads.org.nz. If you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.
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