• Do you know the best ways of approaching the subject of alcohol and drug use with people who are developing problems?
• Do you know the signs and symptoms of alcohol and drug use, and how to do brief interventions in order to assist them?
• Did you know that alcohol costs society the most money in lost productivity, causes most of the accidents and health problems, and is the drug most implicated in violence and criminal offending in New Zealand?
• What is a “standard drink”, and how many standard drinks are in the alcohol beverages you normally purchase and consume?
• Which drugs are most commonly used in New Zealand?
• Are you aware of the health effects of the drug “P”?

These and many more questions about alcohol and other drugs are answered in this programme, which is designed to be interactive and informative, with powerpoint slides and demonstrations and exercises to illustrate the points made. Programmes range from half day introductory to full day programmes, which also offer screening information, brief interventions and interactive exercises.

Our training is tailor-made to meet the needs of groups of individuals, health (including mental health) services, and social services, who wish to inform their employees about this very relevant and potentially problematic issue in the clients who come to them for various services, but may not identify with an alcohol or drug issue. When staff members become aware of ways to identify these issues and learn how to do brief treatments and/or referrals, not only the clients benefit, but also the service outcomes improve and staff feel more effective and positive about their roles.

See also Methamphetamine and Illegal Drugs – Brief Interventions and Treatment

This half day training programme introduces participants to the concept of brief and early interventions for those who may be clients of services but who may also have an underlying issue of alcohol use, whether identified, or not. The social and health goals and expected outcomes for clients who have other issues are often compromised by their use of alcohol, when it becomes excessive or problematic. When people try to intervene in unhelpful, critical or judgemental ways, the opportunity can be lost, and clients can become resistant and exit the service, or continue their behaviour, with poor outcomes. In order to engage, identify and work with the problem, it is helpful to have some knowledge and understanding about the cause and effects of alcohol use, and avoiding judgement.

This programme offers information about alcohol, and introduces practitioners and support staff to some helpful ways of raising the issue of alcohol use, identifying potential problems through screening, offers some brief intervention techniques, and information about appropriate referrals. The programme is interactive and offers opportunities to practice screening and interventions with other participants, to integrate learning.