NKMP Addictions Counsellor Rod Allison attended the recent Cutting Edge Conference at Te Papa in Wellington.
“Cutting Edge is the national gathering of the addiction sector leading and promoting innovative thinking and practice in addiction treatment. It provides an excellent opportunity for addiction practitioners, academics, policy makers, government agencies, and the broader addiction sector to gain fresh inspiration, learn more about cutting edge thinking and practice and to build stronger relationships and networks. Cutting Edge is hosted by Dapaanz and supported by strategic partners Health Promotion Agency, Matua Raki and Ministry of health” – Cutting Edge 2017 Conference booklet.
“Addition is everyone’s business. I think that sums it up really well.”
Rod enjoyed the conference and especially information about harm reduction and the evidence presented by one of the speakers that substance use is part of human existence. The speaker’s studies showed traces of hallucinogens that were centuries old.
“There will always be some form of substance use within humanity so harm reduction is the way to go. Harm reduction means to minimize the risk by getting the person to cut down substance use, and pulling the community in to help so as not to stigmatize substance users,” Rod says.
Rod also enjoyed hearing about Porch Light, a community art project in Philadelphia, America.
Our Porch Light program, a joint collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, focuses on achieving universal health and wellness among Philadelphians, especially those dealing with mental health issues or trauma. We do this by providing opportunities to contribute to meaningful works of public art.https://www.muralarts.org/program/porch-light/
Rod said the project reinforces the community approach. “The issues start in the community and that’s where the healing is.”
“The Cutting Edge, the speakers, the networking, it all reinforced that I believe Nga Kete is doing really well in terms of its interface with the community and what they want. We are consumer orientated and I think we do that really well,” Rod says.
“Cutting Edge is the national gathering of the addiction sector leading and promoting innovative thinking and practice in addiction treatment. It provides an excellent opportunity for addiction practitioners, academics, policy makers, government agencies, and the broader addiction sector to gain fresh inspiration, learn more about cutting edge thinking and practice and to build stronger relationships and networks. Cutting Edge is hosted by Dapaanz and supported by strategic partners Health Promotion Agency, Matua Raki and Ministry of health” – Cutting Edge 2017 Conference booklet.
“Addition is everyone’s business. I think that sums it up really well.”
Rod enjoyed the conference and especially information about harm reduction and the evidence presented by one of the speakers that substance use is part of human existence. The speaker’s studies showed traces of hallucinogens that were centuries old.
“There will always be some form of substance use within humanity so harm reduction is the way to go. Harm reduction means to minimize the risk by getting the person to cut down substance use, and pulling the community in to help so as not to stigmatize substance users,” Rod says.
Rod also enjoyed hearing about Porch Light, a community art project in Philadelphia, America.
Our Porch Light program, a joint collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, focuses on achieving universal health and wellness among Philadelphians, especially those dealing with mental health issues or trauma. We do this by providing opportunities to contribute to meaningful works of public art.https://www.muralarts.org/program/porch-light/
Rod said the project reinforces the community approach. “The issues start in the community and that’s where the healing is.”
“The Cutting Edge, the speakers, the networking, it all reinforced that I believe Nga Kete is doing really well in terms of its interface with the community and what they want. We are consumer orientated and I think we do that really well,” Rod says.
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