General News
22 August, 2025
Grampians Community Health calls for action on alcohol and drug harms
Locals concerned about their alcohol or drug use are being urged to make a change in the lead-up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.
While the annual campaign is aimed at preventing overdose, it is also a day to remember people who have died from overdose, and to acknowledge the grief experienced by family and friends.
It also aims to raise awareness about overdose prevention and seeks to end stigma surrounding the subject.
Grampians Community Health (GCH) is offering Making a Change (MAC), a structured alcohol and other drug (AOD) day rehabilitation program.
While evidence suggests alcohol and drug use hasn't declined across the region, rehabilitation programs aren't being utilised as often as expected.
MAC facilitators Alisha Piper and Jess Bowater say the program can change lives for the better, improve daily living skills, health and wellbeing, and prevent overdoses and other harms from AOD use.
"The program is great for people to reduce the harms associated with their use," Ms Piper said.
"People find that by creating a structure and routine over a few days each week, it allows them to reduce the harms associated with their use."
The facilitators also see full recovery.
"We've had people who have done the program two or three times, and we see them recover," Ms Piper said.
"The last time we see them, they are abstinent and in a completely different stage of their lives."
Ms Bowater says Making a Change gives participants a place where people genuinely care about them.
"Whether it's the facilitators or the other people in the program, they feel that care and it helps them to keep going," she said.
"People make mistakes, and people using GCH services can be assured that this place is judgment-free."
People don't have to be abstinent to attend the program, but cannot be visibly affected by substances.
"I worry that people think they have to be abstinent, or ready to be abstinent, may not be engaging in the program because they aren't ready to give up just yet, but as long as they are ready to make a change to their lives, even a small step, that's what really counts," Ms Bowater explained.
The State government-funded program, auspiced by Ballarat Community Health, is delivered by GCH in Horsham, Ararat and Stawell.
Ms Piper said numbers were low in the current program in Stawell.
"We know there are people using alcohol and drugs in harmful ways, so we're concerned that people don't know about the program," she said.
"The program is really helpful, and we do fun things that people enjoy, as well as getting the lifestyle improvements.
"Even if they just take one or two things from the program, it's going to set them up to be able to use safer, avoid overdose and improve their social connections."
The program is over eight weeks, with sessions three or four days a week, and covers topics including communication, healthy relationships, relapse prevention, conflict management, stress and anxiety, exercise, cooking, budgeting, employability skills, and self-esteem.
It also covers harm minimisation, the impacts of substance use on the body, stress and anxiety.
People can make appointments by ringing Grampians Community Health on 5358 7400 and ask for an Intake Worker.