Pubdate: Thu, 23 Sept 1999
Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia)
Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers
Contact:  http://mercury.illnews.com.au/
Author: Louise Turk

BRIAN A GOOD SPORT IN DRUG FIGHT

Sports-mad Brian Brown can run his own race without
crutches.

He has never smoked tobacco, drank alcohol or touched drugs in his 38
years.

He made a conscious effort to be healthy after growing up in
Coomaditchie and seeing the lives of many of his people destroyed by
drugs.

Mr Brown witnessed how drug abuse led to the breakdown of family
relationships and contributed to Aboriginal people's low self-esteem
and diminished employment outcomes.

He decided that keeping fit through soccer, touch football, and indoor
soccer - the last of which he has played at national level - was a
better option.

Now, as an Illawarra Area Health Service Aboriginal drug and alcohol
worker, Mr Brown is helping his community address the drug issue.

``I can help my people through being a role model and encourage them
to get more involved in recreational activities,'' he said. ``There is
so much potential out there which needs to be steered in the right
direction.''

Mr Brown was involved in an Aboriginal drug and alcohol summit on
Tuesday, which addressed specific issues in the lead-up to tomorrow's
major Illawarra and Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Summit.

He was joined by Aboriginal elders Aunty Mary Davis, Aunty Iris McLeod
and Aunty Joyce Donovan, and government and non-government health workers.

Summit participants made several recommendations, including the need
to stage a community Aboriginal youth forum and establish a half-way
house for Aboriginal people after they had completed a drug treatment
course.

``Also we would like to see more Aboriginal workers placed in
mainstream health and drug services,'' Mr Brown said.

``There are Aboriginal faces in these services at the moment but often
the demand is too great for one worker.''

Participants further recommended the need for more resources to divert
young Aborigines away from the court system and into counselling and
treatment programs. 

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