News Page

Guildford's Choice Much Like Lomu's

The Dominion Post 23/11/11

Zac Guildford's very publice difficulties with alcohol have become the focus of considerable public discussion on New Zealand's binge drinking culture. This is an important matter, especially with the conflict between the Law Commission's recommendations on alcohol law reform and what the Government is prepared to implement.  Alcohol problems are treatable and in New Zealand we have a highly skilled workforce dedicated to this.  But even with the best treatment, the road to recovery is one of ups and downs.

The nature of alcohol dependence is that it is often beyond the control of the individual and that relapse is common on the path to recovery.  While they can lead to behaviours that are highly embarrassing, serious alcohol problems are health issues rather than just bad behaviour and poor choice.  Read more.

Crackdown on Sevens Boozing

The Dominion Post 26/11/11

It's the country's biggest dress-up party but authorities are vowing to crack down on alcohol abuse at next year's Wellington Sevens and prosecute anyone plying drunk fans with booze. "Pre-loading" ticket-holders who binge ahead of games are also on notice.  Drunks or anyone caught smuggling in their own alcohol will be denied entry to Wespac Stadium. Learn more

Kronic Ban Could Lead to 'Stockpiling'

The Dominion Post 2 August 2011

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne yesterday announced a 12-month ban on 43 legal highs, which will be in force by the end of the week.  The stop-gap measure will allow the Government to work on implementing a permanent ban.  It has already signalled it is considering a Law Commission recommendation to require the industry to prove its drugs are safe.

Health experts have been pressing for tighter controls on the products, which have been linked to addiction and psychotic episodes and can be bought in some diaries and on the internet.  Read More

Alcohol to be Banned in Diaries, Hidden in Supermarkets

26 August 2011

Diaries will be banned from selling liquor and supermarkets will have to hide it away in "non-prominent" areas under a series of changes to alcohol laws accepted by the Government.  The select committee that considered the Alcohol Reform Bill for close to 100 hours finally reported its findings last night, and Justice Minister Simon Power immediately announced that the Government would accept all 130 of its suggested changes. Read More

Hundreds of Drunk Kids in our Hospitals

The Dominion Post 11 July 2011

Hundreds of young children are being admitted to hospital for drug and alcohol overdoses every year, with some as young as seven arriving at hospital drunk on wine. Documents obtained under the Official Information Act from 13 district health baords around New Zealand paint a shocking picture of very young children having to be treated in hospital for the effects of drugs and alcohol. Read more

Drinking and Pregnancy Just Don't Mix

As a toddler, James was a compulsive liar.  Before he reached the age of eight his stealing had become so prolific that his parents took him ot a psychologist. At 13, he was a regular smoker and, by 15, he was an alcoholic.  It wasn't until James was 26 that his mother, Robin, discovered the cause of her adopted son's disruptive behaviour.  Her sister heard a radio programme on foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and immedicately thought of her troubled nephew. read more

What is FASD?

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is an umbrella term used since 2004 which covers foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), part-FAS and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorders.  International research shows one in every 100 live births involves FASD.  That's about 500-600 babies a year in New Zealand. read more

Farewell Loyd & Megan

11/04/2011

On 7 April we had a farewell dinner for two long serving staff at Las Margaritas. Lloyd has been with WellTrust for 7 years, both as a student placement and a trained A & D counsellor. He and his wife Hannah intend settling in England for a few years and using it as a base to travel. Hannah has a teaching position organised, and Lloyd will continue to work with youth. Megan has been with us for 6 ½ years, again as a student placement and a counsellor. She has secured a job teaching English in Thailand for a few years. Both have contributed enormously to WellTrust, and the health and wellbeing of youth, and will be sadly missed. We wish them every success and happiness for the future.

Lloyd & Megan	Loyd & Hannah
Casey & Eugenia	Jo & Jeremy
Trish & Rex	Murray & Dr Fred
Jacquey & Martin	Megan & Vanessa
Megan & Becks	Tommy & Nicola

Cannabis Use Heightens Psychosis Risk

3/03/2011

People who use cannabis in their youth dramatically increase their risk of psychotic symptoms, and continued use of the drug can raise the risk of developing a psychotic disorder in later life, scientists say.  After a 10-year study of links between cannabis use and psychosis, Dutch researchers found that cannabis use almost doubled the risk of later psychotic symptoms read more 

Severely Drunk Women Shock Police

07/02/2011 The Dominion Post

Police are calling time on the female drinking culture after most fans needing medical attention at the NZI Sevens turned out to be young women. Many were so severely intoxicated they were unable to look after themselves, police said.  Although overall they were happy with crowd behaviour, Sevens operation commander Senior Sergeant Simon Feltham said police were extremely concerned at the drinking behaviour of young women. Read more

Psychosis and Marijuana Use Linked in New Cannabis Study

8/02/2011 Marcus Hondro

A study from an international team of researchers has found that psychosis and marijuana useage are linked, and using pot could hasten illness.  Another study has come along suggesting marijuana is not as harmless a drug as proponents of the legalisation of cannabis might have you believe, especially for young people.  The study was published on 7 February 2011 and the authors say it is a clear indicator there is a link between marijuana use and early onset of psychosis. Read more 

Two Drinks Max: Teens Film Drink-Drive Tragedy

NZ Herald News 7/11/2010

The Government believes New Zealand drivers aren't ready to moderate their drinking. We know they are. So take responsibility for keeping our roads safe by signing up: Two Drinks Max. The destruction caused by drink-drivers was portrayed in films made by college kids from around the country for this year's Students Against Drink Driving short film awards. Read more

Talking to your Teens about Alcohol

Alcohol is often very readily available to our teens, no matter what laws are in place. They can get it from older siblings, friends and relatives. So it's a good idea to teach your child how to handle alcohol, both socially and at home. Here's a summary of some tips for taking control of how your kids use alcohol: Read more  

Alcohol Worse Than Crack and Heroin, Scientists say

 Dominion Post 1/11/2010

Alcohol is a more dangerous drug than both crack and heroin when the combined harms to the user and to others are assessed, British scientists said yesterday. Presenting a new scale of drug harm that rates the damage to users themselves and to wider society, the scientists rated alcohol the most harmful overall and almost three times as harmful as cocaine or tobacco. Read more

  

Alcohol Action Response to Government's Alcohol Plans

27 August 2010

The Government made an interesting little promise when announcing their long awaited response to the Law Commission's review earlier this week which, more than the timid and minimal response itself sums up their irresponsible and uncaring attitude to the victims of alcohol.read more

Drugs Were Found in a Third of Drivers who Died in Crashes

Dominion Post 30 July 2010

A third of drivers who died in crashes had taken drugs, a five-year study reveals. The study, by police and Environmental Science and Research, looked at 1046 drivers who died on the roads between 2004 and 2009. Of those, about 13 per cent had only alcohol in their bloodstream. But that compared with 35 per cent of the dead drivers who tested positive for cannabis or other drugs. read more

Liquor Law Reform Zeroes in on Youth

Monday 23 August 2010

Justice Minister Simon Power has unveiled the Government's alcohol law reform package today in a press conference. The package focuses on minimising alcohol-related harm, including crime, disorder, and public health problems. The package responds to the Law Commission's review of alcohol laws, said the Minister. "What the Government has heard from the New Zealand public is that the pendulum has swung too far towards relaxation of alcohol laws. Today we are responding to the public's call for action" he explained. read more

New Zealand's National Alcohol Crisis

Education and self-responsibility by themselves are not enough. Effective regulation is needed to change New Zealand's harmful drinking culture. the 5+ Solution is a set of evidence-based policy directives which are a real solution to the national alcohol crisis. Read more

Experts to Grapple with Teen Traumas

The Dominion Post: 19/05/2010

Teenagers are living on a "powderkeg" created by complex social networks and physical development outpacing mental development, the Government's chief science adviser says.

Parents, school principals and the chief coroner have thrown their support behind a research project that was announced by Sir Peter Gluckman yesterday into teenage injuries and deaths. Learn more

A Brighter Future for all New Zealanders 

27 April 2010. Press Release: National Addiction Centre

The final report of the Law Commission released today sets the scene for a truly brighter future for ordinary New Zealanders.

Professor Doug Sellman, Director of the National Addiction Centre, described the final report as a "tour de force" which is likely to guide major change to the way alcohol is supplied, marketed and sold over the next few years. The heavy drinking culture is going to be brought under control and slowly dismantled.

The brighter future consists  of improved physical and mental health for the 700,000 heavy drinking New Zealanders whose drinking will reduce, but even more importantly, it consists of greater safety for everyone from alcohol collateral damage. Read more

  "Let's Cook"!

Last month Megan O'Sullivan, a senior alcohol & drug counsellor at WellTrust, organised a cooking programme for some of her clients. These were young people who had experienced some difficulties in life by using alcohol or other drugs. She believes that enriching the lives of these young people by helping them learn new skills will make a positive difference to them and their community.

"Let's Cook"was held at Hutt Valley High School with the help of cooking teacher Mrs Bala Thompson. The cooking classes provided an opportunity for WellTrust clients to learn skills in preparing and cooking meals, as well as giving them a basic understanding in food and nutrition. It engaged the youth in an interactive activity to help them learn and develop life skills.

Megan believes that it was good for her clients to be part of a non-drug using activity. The cooking programme was enjoyable and beneficial for all involved and she would love to run a similar project next year.

WellTrust would like to thank Hutt Mana Charitable Trust and Hutt Valley High School for their support.

Crisis Fear Prompts Push for Alcohol Ad Restriction - The Dominion Post - 11th September 2009

The booze culture is coming under increasing pressure, with a new lobby group of doctors and public health workers predicting "a national alcohol crisis".

Alcohol Action NZ says it is the industry, not the individual drinker, that needs to change and is pushing for a restriction on alcohol advertising.

Spokesman Doug Sellman, a psychiatrist who heads Dunedin's National Addiction Centre, says the alcohol industry invests $200,000 a day on advertising and marketing but fails to come clean on the harms of heavy alcohol use. Read more

WellTrust A&D Counsellor is also a succesful musician!

Tommy Sygrove, is musician as well as one of our counsellors. Click on the link below to hear an interview between Tommy, and Jim Mora on National Radio.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/nrmtalk/tommy_and_the_fallen_horses

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Organise Fundraising Quiz Night for WellTrust

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce recently held a fundraising evening for WellTrust at the Hutt Golf Club. Thirteen teams of 8 people from a variety of organisations competed for the right answers, and for the second year running Mills Mob took the crown! Our thanks to Renee from the Chamber for organising a superb night, and to the many sponsors who contributed prizes and items for auction.

David, Anna, Murray (CEO WellTrust) and Renee		Renee(L)and David(R) from the Chamber of Commerce, with auctioneer Rex
Renee		Murray & Lynda
Rex & Trish		Vanessa & Mark