Message from the Minister for Health

The Hon. Reba Paige Meagher MP, Minister for Health.

As the Minister for Health, I am delighted to take on responsibility for Community Drug Strategies in supporting the valuable work of Community Drug Action Teams (CDATs) across NSW.

It is a particularly exciting time for the program, with the recent announcement of $11.9 m funding for the next four years from 1 July 2007.  Increased annual grants funding will be available for CDAT projects, with 20% more per year now available for projects over the next four years.

The Community Drug Information Strategy will build on the success of recent campaigns, including the Be Part of It, Not Out of It campaign, the Club Drugs campaign, as well as the recently relaunched Cannabis campaign.  We are committed to running at least one high impact information campaign to address drug and alcohol issues every year for the next four years.

The success of Community Drug Strategies since 1999 ensures its role in achieving key elements of the State Plan.  In particular, Priority S3 focuses on Healthy Communities, including specific targets to reduce total risk drinking to below 25% by 2012, and to hold illicit drug use in NSW below 15%.

By combining the unique role of CDATs in addressing the local causes of drug and alcohol abuse, complemented by the innovative social marketing campaigns produced through the Community Drug Information Strategy, I am confident of our ability to minimise harm from drugs and alcohol in our communities. 

Finally a heart felt thank you to all the hard working CDAT members across the state for the impressive progress to date.  I genuinely look forward to supporting your ideas and enthusiasm for innovative projects over the next four years.  We couldn’t do it without you.