Marijuana Anonymous support group to be formed in shire
The shire’s first Marijuana Anonymous support group will be launched at a special event to be held in Cronulla Mall on Saturday, May 20.
The event is being sponsored by the Reverend George Capsis’s Christian Outreach Ministries and follows a similar event he held last year called Shire’s Night Out which highlighted the problem of domestic violence.
“We are trying to make this an annual event and have a different emphsis each year,” Mr Capsis said.
Last year we had the "Shire's night out" when we highlighted domestic violence and launched the concept of Glenda’s Place, a refuge for mothers and children fleeing domestic violence and which is functioning well.
“This year we calling it the Shire’s Day in the Sun and will be promoting mental health care which has several facets and needs more resources.
“We are also using the occasion to launch our own Marijuana Anonymous weekly meetings.
“There is nothing in the shire like this currently operating but there is a big need.
“Marijuana users are filling up our psychiatric wards. Unfortunately, we are now seeing the effects of long-term marijuana use.
“It’s a myth that marijuana is a soft drug.”
The idea of establishing a Marijuana Anonymous support group was the idea of a young man who was staying at the Christian Outreach Ministries’ Ascot House halfway home for the homeless at Miranda.
“He has been a great success story,” Mr Capsis said. “Since then he got married, had a child and is getting along with his life,” Mr Capsis said.
“He has arranged a meeting with Mark Speakman when we hope to get his blessing and discuss the possibility of establishing a marijuana detox and support facility in the shire.
“I did have such thing operating a few years ago but did not have the resources to sustain it.”
Christian Outreach Ministries’ Russell Kinred, who is helping to organise the event, said it will take the form of an open day where people can come along and get information of the many support groups.
“We want to try and lift the stigma off the subject of mental health and let people know there is hope and there are options,” Mr Kinred said.
“By shining a light on the subject we are letting people know that everything is okay and that there is a way forward.”
He said there are 140 AA groups in Sydney and the South Coast Region but this will be the first Marijuana Anonymous group in the region.
The Shire’s Day in the Sun event will be held in Cronulla Mall on Saturday, May 20 from 2pm to 5pm.
There will be live entertainment and a sausage sizzle.
A seven-minute video on mental health issues will be shown and counsellors will be available to give advice on mental health support services.
Anyone requiring more details can phone George Capsis on 0412 270 746 or Russell Kinred on 0417 219 706 or integrasigns@bigbond.com.
