Speech to the Hamilton Rotary Given by: Anthony Santucci, Chairman, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention. Date: Tuesday April 11, 2006

Transcription

1 Speech to the Hamilton Rotary Given by: Anthony Santucci, Chairman, Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (CADA) Date: Tuesday April 11, 2006 Ladies and Gentlemen I would like to thank you for allowing me some time to stand before you and speak about an important organization and a cause that I am passionate about. I am the Chairman for the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention. CADA. Today I am going to share a little of CADA s history and the programs we have in place and then look at the events that are taking place throughout April, which is Alcohol Awareness Month and I will conclude with a peak into where I see CADA going in the future. CADA, a registered charity, was started more than 30 years ago by two Alcoholics Anonymous members who wanted to speak publicly about their struggle with alcohol and the impact it had on their families and ultimately how alcohol 1

2 abuse affects the entire community. From these inspired beginnings CADA was formed. The original name was the Council on Alcohol and it was later changed to The Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention. The name change reflected the organization s enlarged focus of addressing alcohol and drug abuse. One of the on-going aims of CADA is to institute a TIPS program in Bermuda. TIPS stands for Training for Intervention ProcedureS. TIPS is a dynamic skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, drunk driving and underage drinking. The program enhances and builds upon the fundamental people skills of servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol. TIPS gives individuals the knowledge and confidence they need to recognize potential alcohol-related problems and effectively intervene to prevent alcohol-related tragedies. TIPS is a practical, common sense approach to serving, selling and consuming alcohol responsibly in any setting. This training helps stop people who are drinking from hurting themselves, injuring others, and damaging property. 2

3 We are in the process of writing to every bar and restaurant owner in Bermuda to offer them this training for their employees who sell and serve alcohol. CADA is offering this five-hour training session totally free of charge. TIPS has been successfully implemented in 50 US states and 22 countries around the world. Once trained, individuals are added to an international database by Health Communications, Incorporated. Upon successful completion of the training each person is given a TIPS certification card that is valid for two years. I am pleased to report that the first establishment in Bermuda to have their employees trained is the Fairmont Hamilton Hotel. It is my goal, by next year this time, to have 50% of bar and restaurant employees who sell and serve alcohol in Bermuda trained. I will keep you abreast of our progress. April is an important month on CADA s calendar. Our objectives during this month are to highlight the effects of alcohol on behavior and decision-making and to continue to promote responsible alcohol consumption. We are also focusing squarely on the elimination of underage drinking. 3

4 I would like to share with you some of the initiatives that we have instituted this month. We began the month with the proclamation ceremony which was read on the steps of City Hall by the Minister for National Drug Control, the Hon. Wayne Perinchief. You may remember the picture from the daily newspaper and shots on the evening news casts of our invited guests talking with students from Victor Scott School while viewing extensively damaged vehicles, the potential result of impaired driving. Two weeks ago we put hundreds of Blood Alcohol Concentration self assessment sticks in ten restaurants and bars in Bermuda. These free, one time use, disposable, self assessment sticks were well-received by the establishments. I have a stick right here, allow me to give you a quick demonstration of how it works. All you have to do is take it out of the plastic bag, break the glass here in the middle and then blow into the stick for about ten seconds. If the crystals change color that is an indication that it is not safe for you to operate a vehicle. 4

5 I understand that the patrons of the establishments where we had the self assessment sticks have used them all. We have ordered several thousand more in order to continue to get the word out that it is unacceptable to drink and then operate a vehicle on Bermuda s roads. We will coordinate with the Bermuda Police Service at the end of the month to determine if this initiative has had any impact on alcoholrelated accidents, arrests or other activities. Last Friday, April 7 th was Bermuda Alcohol Screening Day. CADA shared a booth with the Ministry for National Drug Control at the Argus Health Fair at the Number One Shed. We handed out hundreds of leaflets and brochures on the effects of alcohol to the fair attendees. With the assistance of the Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre we offered free, confidential alcohol screenings. Those who chose to take the test were able to speak with a trained professional about their results and concerns, and if necessary, were given assistance with next steps. In an on-going effort to find new ways to speak to people about the devastating effects of alcohol abuse we teamed up with the Bermuda National Trust on their annual Palm Sunday walk this past Sunday. As you may recall, last 5

6 Sunday was a beautifully sunny day and hundreds of people participated in this year s walk. CADA volunteers and staff were on-hand at Cedarbridge Academy to give away tee-shirts at the start of the walk. The tee-shirts provided free advertising and we feel continued to reach new audiences about the importance of not drinking and driving. I have a few tee-shirts here with me today so you too can help us spread to the message of drinking responsibly. You will notice the back of the tee-shirt unashamedly advertises our website cada.bm. This is a new site that we launched this month. I am pleased to report that we have had in the region of 400 hits since the launch. Our goal is to have 3,000 hits this month. So when you return to your office this afternoon, or when you get home this evening, go to CADA.bm and have a look around. On the site we have the latest drink driving statistics for Bermuda and information on alcohol and drug abuse. If you have time please visit our forum area Stop the Madness Bermy Living Drunk. Feel free to join a discussion and talk with those who have been directly affected by drug and alcohol abuse. 6

7 One of CADA s aims during alcohol awareness month and throughout the year is to continue to create and forge meaningful partnerships that will assist in getting out the important messages of responsible alcohol consumption and the elimination of underage drinking. To that end we have enlisted the assistance of the Bermuda Police Service Prevention Officer who has generously agreed to visit three primary schools this month to talk to their Parent Teacher Associations. Not only do parents and teachers attend these meetings but students are also a part of the audience. Officer Roser will have a lively and engaging discussion about alcohol abuse. We feel that it is important for parents and their children hear the same message at the same time. The schools she will visit this month are: St. David s Primary, West Pembroke Primary and Heron Bay Primary. It is our hope to make this an annual event and we plan to add more schools to the list next year. CADA has received increased publicity this month through various newspaper and television interviews. It is my 7

8 intention that you will continue to hear about the new and exciting initiatives we will be putting in place throughout the year. I am pleased to announce that next Monday we will have our new executive director on board. Additionally, Canon James Frances, who is the Deputy Chairman of CADA and I, will be putting together a new executive board and as I look around the room this afternoon I may be calling on a few of you to join us and become a part of history as we work to make a difference in Bermuda. As I conclude it would be remiss of me not to thank all those who have made alcohol awareness month possible: the Ministry for National Drug Control, the Bermuda National Trust, the Bermuda Police Service, the Road Safety Council, the Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre, Cellular One and the bar and restaurants assisting us to give away the self assessment sticks to their patrons. As I leave today, I ask that you carry the message of responsible alcohol consumption with you. If you drink call a friend, hail a cab, walk, whatever you do don t operate a vehicle. The life you save could be your own. Thank you. 8