Save A Mate at youth club

A GROUP of young people were confronted last week with the graphic consequences of drug and alcohol abuse when the Save A Mate program stopped off at the Longreach Youth Club.

Run by the Australian Red Cross, SAM is currently touring the Central West, providing real information for young people about how to respond to an emergency situation involving drugs or alcohol.

The group of over twenty high school students, youth workers and other interested community members were also given the opportunity to learn how to resuscitate and administer emergency assitance during the two-and-a-half hour session.

Amongst the group was a contingent of Year 12 students from Winton State School, who had travelled over two hours to attend the free session.

Robert Carn and Holly Mutton were impressed with the way the information was presented, both commenting it was great not to be lectured.

"It was good information, especially if you ever get into a situation when you are at a party and your friend does OD," Robert said.

"You think that you know what to do in that situation, but I don’t think people do," Holly added.
"The program busted a lot of myths associated with drug and alcohol overdose, like putting someone in a cold shower to make them snap out of it.
"What seems like a good idea is actually the wrong thing to do."

Alongside fellow presenter Zech Johnson, it was SAM program co-ordinator Katie Gregg's first time travelling the Central West.

"The turn up was great, considering it was out of school hours," Ms Gregg said.

"Usually we present in the classroom, so it is nice to know that young people want to learn these skills off their own back."