Oct 21 – Connected Health Campaign Starts
Following the recent publication of a 24-page Report putting forward proposals for managing the issues of substance abuse and sexual health in the community, the Equality Rights Group and the rehabilitation group ‘Stay Clean’ have today launched the first stages of their joint 'Connected Health' public campaign.
Joined by the team from the Mr. Gibraltar and Mrs Gibraltar pageant, they collected funds outside Morrisons for Stay Clean’s ‘Drop-In Centre’ and services, as well as informed the public as to the reasons why Gibraltar, in their view, must establish an open, positive clinic to assist people with both addiction and sexual health issues.
“Overcoming stigma and fear are objectives number one,” Damian Broton, who heads Stay Clean said.
“We want to make sure there is good coordination all round the system at a clinical level, and to make clear that sexual health and substance abuse can and sometimes do go together. We can’t make good progress without everyone presenting an open, positive attitude. We mustn’t fail to understand that this is a Public Health issue. It affects us all one way or another. We can all have family or friends who need our help,” he said.
For his part, Felix Alvarez, said: “Drugs have been a curse and a gift. A curse to those affected, and a gift to organised crime who, without a system of regulation, have thrived and profited for too long. We need Government to introduce an ongoing system of regulation of these substances. One that is kept under constant review, and one that is based on scientific evidence. One that takes the control away from the Mafias and puts it into the hands of caring professionals. The system must be good enough to differentiate between substances where evidence indicates high levels of medical and/or social harm, and those where the harm is no greater than what we already readily admit in social drugs such as alcohol, tea or coffee. Tobacco smoking is down considerably in the last decade – and that was achieved without criminalisation or prison sentences. It is public awareness and a range of regulatory measures which makes the real difference, and which leads to success.”
Broton and Alvarez joined their team of campaigners to call on the public to be alert to the ‘importance of finally getting effective action’ on the issues raised by ‘Connected Health’.
“The Campaign will continue for as long as it takes to make these changes a reality,” they stated.
"Our determination is set, and, following our survey information, we are confident the public will respond positively.”
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