Hope against ICE

Teen Challenge Tasmania is proud to announce the upcoming “Not Even Once” drug prevention
projects for schools, parents, teachers and communities to combat the hopelessness around ICE
and other drug use.

Teen Challenge is an international organisation that specialises in drug and alcohol demand
reduction and rehabilitation, with 1200 centres in 109 countries globally. Nationally there are
centres in every state except the Northern Territory and is now being established here in Northern
Tasmania.

Working coalface with families and individuals struggling with addiction or just beginning to go off
the rails, Teen Challenge has a wealth of real life experience that can help most people at
whatever stage of the journey.

“There are a lot of misconceptions and myths out there, about drugs and alcohol and what they do
and don’t do to our brains and bodies. Many people don’t understand that drug and alcohol use is
often a “mask” to cover people’s pain from underlying issues, experiences and a form of coping
mechanism,” Teen Challenge Tasmania executive director Tanya Cavanagh said.

“A young man recently shared at a meeting I attended during a discussion on ICE. He said, ‘I’ve
been offered it three times, the first two times I said no way, but the third time a voice in my head
said, well, maybe just the once would be ok.’ Fortunately he chose not to that time. With education
about the very real consequences, his thought processes may have been quite different.”

Teen Challenge is extremely passionate about prevention and believes in being “fence builders” at
the top of the cliff to addiction, for many young people. One method is the “Not Even Once”
education programs that include building knowledge, social skills, life skills and refusal skills. We’re
partnering with Dalgarno Institute, whose research shows this model can produce significant
reductions in drug use.

“We believe in the power of young people. They are so influential and, when educated and
empowered to make good choices, our kids can become powerful positive change agents within
their peer groups, families, schools and communities. They will be empowered to make a positive
choice and choose not to take drugs and thus create a society that is totally fine with their
decision,” Tanya said.

“It’s important that as a community we support and embrace our young people too which is why we
are dovetailing our schools delivery with evening seminars for parents, teachers and community
members.”

The questions parents are usually seeking answers to are: Why would my child take drugs? Are
there signs I can look for? What harm do they do to them? How do they get it? How can I prevent
this and save my child?

The “Not Even Once” project will address these questions and attendees will also hear first hand
from young Teen Challenge graduates; their own stories, the pitfalls and an understanding that
drugs do not discriminate – they can and will touch everyone, there are no class boundaries. Their
stories are powerful and when shared it is “peer teaching peer”.

All are welcome to attend the evening seminars, with entry by donation to support the delivery of
the “Not even Once” Projects to Tassie Schools at no charge.

High School Seminars for this year run 23/11 – 4/12 in school and then commence again Feb 2016
Ulverstone Community Seminar Monday 23rd November 6.30pm – 8.30pm at venue Gnomon
Pavilion, Ulverstone Wharf, Ulverstone

Launceston Community Seminar Wednesday 25th November 6.30pm – 8.30pm at Door of Hope,
50 Glen Dhu Street, South Launceston

Tickets can be obtained via Eventbrite:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/not-even-once-community-drug-prevention-seminartickets-
19269413334?aff=efbevent

www.teenchallengetasmania.org
PO Box 453 Launceston, TAS 7250
Tanya Cavanagh Executive Director Teen Challenge Tasmania, www.teenchallengetasmania.org PO Box 453 Launceston, TAS 7250