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ALAC - BROKEN CIRCLES NEED MENDING |
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By
Ruci
Farrell |
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Pacific peoples must mend the broken circles in their communities if
they hope to address serious social ills that come with living
overseas.
Drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, armed theft and gang
warfare, high unemployment and over representation in crime and prison
population were among the symptoms of a broken society crumbling under
the impact of living overseas.
In her address to the ‘Pacific Spirit’ Conference in Auckland, Tongan
academic Dr Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki advocated the restoration of core
Pacific values in the transformation of Pasifika.
Speaking to more than 200 Pacific Alcohol and Drug workers, policy
makers, funders, researchers and other stakeholders, Dr Taufešulungaki
defined alcoholism and drug abuse as symptoms, among others, of the
decline and destruction of communities.
“Ecological strengths and resilience depends on the diversity of
elements, on strong relationships and intact local circles. When the
circle of a community is broken, the power of a community is weakened,
Sustainability is about rebuilding the broken circles in our
communities,” Dr Taufešulungaki said.
The two day
conference organized by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC)
acknowledged that while 46 per cent of Pacific peoples were less likely
to drink, 50 per cent of all New Zealanders accepted drunkenness as
socially acceptable and 1.2 million believed it was okay to get drunk.
Alcohol-related hospitalizations in New Zealand cost an estimated $74
million each year.
The study proved that while religion and social commitments kept a lid
on the Pacific figures, the few that drank alcohol were heavy drinkers
- with 31 per cent classified as ‘uninhibited binge drinkers’ compared
to 29 per cent of NZ adults.
“Pacific people tend to have extreme drinking patterns and ALAC is
committed to working with Pacific communities to support them to work
with their families to reduce harm,” said ALAC Chief Execuive Dr Mike
MacAvoy.
Concerns about widespread risky drinking prompted the ALAC study which
confirms |
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Tongan academic Dr Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki guest speaker. |
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Some of the 200 Pacific Alcohol and Drug workers, policy makers,
funders, researchers and other stakeholders that attended. |
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Marilyn Kolhase - Senior Pacific public servant and one of the
organizers. |
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New Zealanders in all walks of life, all ethnicities, all
ages, urban and rural, men and women freely admitted that it was ok to
get drunk.
Formed in 1976 as a Crown entity, ALAC has established an extensive
network with NGOs, social service providers, mainstream workers, the
Ministry for Health, police and ACC to provide a service that also
addresses concerns of drug abuse, mental health and problem gambling.
In the last two years there has been a shift in policies in the
spectrum of care, Pacific Programmes manager Tina McNicholas said. “We
are concentrating our efforts on the preventative aspects rather than
waiting for the problem to fester before treating it.”
Pacific men were identified as the main consumers of alcohol and
responsible for most alcohol-related violence. They were also most at
risk of psychiatric illness which raised the rates of dual diagnosis
among Pacific men.
In her address Tina spoke of ethnic-specific programmes and training
for community leaders, parents and youth leaders with the focus on
unlicensed premises, private settings and community events.
Since its inception, the Pacific component of ALAC has driven a
nationwide awareness campaign in different ethnic languages, conducted
extensive surveys and developed an effective strategy to better cater
for the problems of alcohol and drug abuse.
Pacific A & D practitioners have also been proactive in accessing
training needs and identifying more effective means of delivering their
programmes to suit the particular needs of Pacific communities.
Information from law enforcers indicate that young Pacific Islanders
are just as vulnerable to exposure to lethal drugs such as speed,
ecstasy, marijuana and ‘P’.
The ‘Pacific Spirit’ Conference was offered possible solutions by Dr
Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki to eliminate the social problems that beset the
vast populations of Pacific Islanders that live overseas. She suggested
that Pacific communities acknowledge the significant differences
between the two cultures and develop bridges between them.
Dr Taufe’ulungaki also sauggested that hom cultures be adapted to the
new system. Better governance that created transparent, accountable
participation and integrity was just as important as developing
effective leadership. “Migration to urban ares and oversean created new
social organizations. Rascal gangs and the new middle class overlaps
with traditional but changing forms of social organization.” Dr
Taufe’ulungaki said some of these new social organizations could hold
the keys for change.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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