NEWS & EVENTS Know the risks; be prepared
Paul Dillon knows more than most people about the risks of drugs and alcohol. The director and founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) has made it his life’s work, and he is now regarded as one of the leading drug and alcohol educators in Australasia.
Paul visited College on 10 April, talking to boys in Years 11, 12 and 13 during the day, and to parents in the evening. Paul’s used humour and plenty of anecdotes drawn from experience to ge this hard hitting message across. “I’m not here to stop you doing anything; you already know if you drink to excess or take illegal drugs, things can go wrong. My role is to raise awareness, help you plan ahead, know the risks and be prepared. “You’re about to enter the most dangerous years of your lives,”
he told the boys, “where leaving school and home, being of legal drinking age, being able to drive, pushing boundaries and risk- taking behaviours combine and, unfortunately, sometimes result in harm to yourselves or others.” With his mission in life dedicated to the health and wellbeing of young people, Paul wants to ensure young people have the tools to stay safe in environments where alcohol and drugs are present. While he says it is unrealistic to expect young people to abstain, given the information now available about brain development, Paul recommends they delay their
first drink as long as possible, and always be mindful of the possible consequences of over indulgence. He urged the boys to take responsibility for themselves and others, to look out for and look after their mates, and outlined what to do and what not to do when helping a drunk friend, and how to recognise and respond to a medical emergency. Paul’s book Teenagers, Alcohol and Drugs further explores his mission to keep young people safe. His website contains pertinent information, as do his two blogs – http://realdealondrugs.blogspot.co.nz for students and http://doingdrugs- darta.blogspot.co.nz for parents.
“I’mnot here to stop you doing anything; you already know
that if you drink to excess or take illegal drugs, things can go wrong.” Paul Dillon
College Issue 35 2018
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