In response to the rising rate of opioid overdoses—particularly heroin—in Melbourne’s CBD, three local organisations have come together to deliver a series of free, community-based workshops funded by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

These sessions aim to educate families and community members on how to support someone using alcohol and other drugs (AOD), how to respond to an overdose using naloxone, and how to care for their own wellbeing.

We recognise this topic can be confronting—Family Drug Support staff and volunteers will be present and available for support during the sessions.

Session 1 – cohealth

Providing insight into drug use, dependence, and withdrawal

• Defining alcohol and drug use, tolerance & dependency
• Attitudes towards alcohol and drug use, and the people who do so
• Exploring the effects, risks and complexities of AOD use
• Unpacking beliefs about AOD use and the impacts of stigma

Session 2 – Family Drug Support

Focusing on communication and support strategies across different stages of behaviour change

• The stages of behaviour change for people using alcohol and drugs
• How to respond accordingly depending on the stage of change
• Effective communication skills
• Person-first language

Session 3 – Harm Reduction Victoria

Delivering harm-reduction training, including naloxone training.

• Recognising the signs of opioid overdose
• Training by workers with lived and living experience of drug use
• FREE Naloxone Kit available upon request
• An overview of the DanceWize Program providing music festival harm reduction

Attend In-Person or Online via Zoom Webinar

For more information see the Eventbrite page, or contact Khya 0490 113 459