Stay safe and look after each other – A message from Paul Dillon
Paul Dillon was at Iona with week, speaking with the Years 10, 11 and 12 students about the effects of drugs and alcohol on their education and future lives.
"It is a great message for teenagers because Mr Dillon is really honest. He gave us interesting information about drugs and alcohol, information that wasn't diluted. He also focused on what to do if things go wrong and how we can help each other," said Chloe Mitchell (11 Moynihan).
Paul has been working in the area of drug education for the past 25 years. Through his business, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA), he has spoken to thousands of young Australians about current drug trends within the community.
"It is refreshing hearing from Mr Dillon because he is realistic about the lives of teenagers and how we should approach situations that involve drugs and alcohol. He gives us useful information and encourages us to support each other," said Ruth Burden (11 Columba).
Paul's discussions are tailored to the students' age groups, with information that builds from Year 10 to Year 12. He focusses on ensuring the students have access to good quality information and best practice drug education.
"Our Year 11 presentation was different because he taught us about the terrible effects of cannabis and what it does to the brain. It was interesting learning about how cannabis effects an individual's mental health and the brain's ability to learn new information," said the students.
At the conclusion of the discussion, Paul encouraged the students to stay safe and look after each other.
"We want to keep you safe and get you through the next few years," he said.
For more information about Paul Dillon, visit http://darta.net.au.