Md 201
District W1 & W2
Western Australian Lions Drug Education Foundation, Inc.

Announcements :

'Try Hugs Not Drugs' t-shirts and windcheaters are available in a variety of sizes for adults and children.

If you want individual shirts or wish to outfit a t-ball team etc. please contact your District Drug Awareness Chairman W1 Lion Tony Turner tony.turner36@bigpond.com or W2 Lion Geoff Roberts girro35@iinet.net.au for prices.

Activities :

Drug abuse is as insidious as a deadly spider's web. For children and young adults drug abuse often starts through experimentation with cigarettes and alcohol, then marijuana and ecstasy tablets. That young person then starts to be drawn further into the web of using drugs - often involving a dangerous mixture or cocktail of drugs - until their addiction becomes entrenched in their life. At this point the web becomes a prison, and the deadly spider can overcome their victim. The potential of an overdose - often a fatal overdose - in some lonely dark alleyway is now a very real possibility.

'Community Drug Education'

Lions Clubs in Western Australia have always been interested in becoming involved in community drug education initiatives. As a result of this the Western Australian Drug Education Foundation (WALDEF) was formed with the following objectives.

- To promote an awareness of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse.

- To develop primary prevention activities, especially in local communities in an 'Awareness' Programme.

- To encourage and facilitate personal, social and community action in support of the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse.

- To participate in national campaigns in lion with the aim of the Australian Lions Drug Awareness Foundation Inc.

- To become involved in the formation of partnerships with governmental health professionals, drug educational agencies and drug aware community groups (LDAG's).

- To actively promote and support counselling and rehabilitation programmes.

'Future Focus'

The Western Australian Lions Drug Education Foundation (WALDEF) has the following future objectives.

- To encourage Lions in Western Australia to become actively involved in LDAG's.

- To encourage participation in the School Drug Education Project and activities in schools.

- To develop a partnership with the Health Department and Education Department where programmes relate to drug awareness.

- To seek and promote suitable drug awareness resources for schools, parents and community agencies.

'Try Hugs Not Drugs'

Many Lions and other people across Australia and the world have a badge, tee shirt or other article with this symbolic message emblazoned on it. This was a very successful project-promotion of WALDEF.

Please click on the below links to our partners in WA - the Local Drug Action Groups and Drug & Alcohol Office (including their alcohol think again drink alcohol campaign).