Circulation 92,573 Thursday, December27, 2018 A haircut to help find Garry a job PHOTOS: MARTIN HUNTER • By Georgia O’Connor- Harding A FREE haircut has given Garry Dickey the confidence he needs to keep applying for jobs. His new look came courtesy of Avondale’s Bristol Barbers, which offered its services for free last week at the Christchurch City Mission to help make Christmas a little brighter for the homeless and less fortunate. Mr Dickey, who is currently unemployed, said haircuts were usually “too expensive” so he appreciated the free offer. After living on the streets for seven years, he now lives in a home in the central city, thanks to an initiative led by the Christchurch Methodist Mission. The initiative, called Housing First, has helped more than 30 people into homes this year. •Turn to page 13 Prescription meds add to rising drug-driver statistics • By Sophie Cornish MOTORISTS WHO shouldn’t be driving after taking prescription medication may be playing a role in the increasing drug-driving statistics. The latest figures show the rate of drug-drivers in Canterbury has increased almost nine times since 2012. Road policing operations manager Senior Sergeant Kelly Larsen said impaired driving can come in many different forms, but motorists affected by prescription medications are becoming an “emerging risk.” “As we get older, we tend to take more prescription medication . . . drivers need to be aware that prescription medication can impact on their ability to drive safely and take personal responsibility for this,” she said. “When your doctor prescribes a new medication, it’s important to ask what impact it might have on your ability to drive, especially taking into consideration any other medication you are already taking. “We have an ageing population – about 126,000 drivers in Canterbury are over the age of 65.” •Turn to page 4
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