Ashburton Courier: September 02, 2021
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NEWS<br />
2 <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>September</strong> 2, 2<strong>02</strong>1<br />
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
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Delivered<br />
to all homes,lifestyle<br />
blocks and farms in<br />
MidCanterbury<br />
and Geraldine<br />
news<br />
Daniel Tobin<br />
Editor<br />
308 7664<br />
<strong>02</strong>7 628 7679<br />
daniel.tobin@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Reporters<br />
Mick Jensen<br />
mick.jensen@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Toni Williams<br />
toni.williams@alliedpress.co.nz<br />
advertising<br />
Jann Thompson<br />
Sales Manager<br />
308 7664<br />
<strong>02</strong>7 587 6351<br />
jann.thompson@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Karen Gane<br />
Sales Account Manager<br />
308 7664<br />
<strong>02</strong>1 510 804<br />
karen.gane@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
getintouch<br />
Editorial<br />
daniel.tobin@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Advertising<br />
info@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
CreativeManager<br />
murray.thompson@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Accounts<br />
accounts@alliedpress.co.nz<br />
Distribution/Deliveries<br />
mary.summerfield@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Office<br />
office@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
03 308 7664<br />
199 Burnett Street,<strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
2407046<br />
Stress relief, not in abottle<br />
TONI.WILLIAMS<br />
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
‘‘It’s avery stressfultime<br />
for people at themoment...<br />
and alot of people do<br />
reach foralcohol to solve<br />
that,’’<strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
CommunityAlcohol and<br />
Drug Service (Acads)<br />
generalmanagerChris<br />
Clark says.<br />
‘‘Alcohol by farisstill<br />
our most widely used drug<br />
of choice,’’ Mrs Clark said,<br />
of those seeking help<br />
throughthe agency.<br />
‘‘And probably alcohol<br />
by far causes the most<br />
problems.’’<br />
Amongthem increased<br />
domestic violence<br />
incidents, general health<br />
deterioration, mental<br />
health and dependency<br />
issues.<br />
Mrs Clark, whoalong<br />
with agencystaffwere<br />
working from their homes<br />
under lockdown<br />
restrictions, said family<br />
bubbleswerenot easy for<br />
everyone.<br />
After the last lockdown<br />
there was an increase in<br />
the number of people<br />
seekinghelp for drug<br />
dependency, she said.<br />
Andgiven record alcohol<br />
sales nationwide, it was<br />
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robinbj@xtra.co.nz<br />
believed this time would<br />
be no different.<br />
‘‘We’represuming<br />
because of the sales of<br />
alcohol at the moment<br />
there could be issues<br />
coming our way in the near<br />
future too,’’ Mrs Clark said.<br />
‘‘I think that the anxiety<br />
levelsare higher this time<br />
than they werelast time,<br />
andalot of people do<br />
reach for alcohol to solve<br />
that,’’she said.<br />
‘‘And when peopleare<br />
stressed they tend to drink<br />
more butthat can leadto<br />
more problems.<br />
‘‘Thereisalot of<br />
pressure on the financial<br />
side of things that come<br />
into it after alockdown as<br />
2380047<br />
well.<br />
‘‘Families beingall<br />
together in one house, it’s<br />
stressful on mumstrying to<br />
handle kids, so yeah it’s<br />
not an easy timefor<br />
people.’’<br />
Police did refer people<br />
to the agencyiftheyhad<br />
concerns about them, butit<br />
wasuptothosepeople if<br />
theywanted to takeup<br />
counselling.<br />
‘‘We seethe peoplewho<br />
want help,and that’s<br />
usuallythe tip of the<br />
iceberg really,’’ MrsClark<br />
said.<br />
It could sometimes lead<br />
to helpingothers inside<br />
family groups,but that was<br />
not agiven.<br />
‘‘It is astressful time for<br />
people so we are trying to<br />
putthe messages out there<br />
for peopleto be kind to<br />
themselves, takecare, look<br />
after their ownwellbeing.’’<br />
While alcohol, followed<br />
by cannabis, werethe most<br />
common drugs used by<br />
people seeking help<br />
through the <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
agency, wastewater testing<br />
in the<strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
catchmenthad picked up<br />
traces of<br />
methamphetamine and<br />
MDMAand afew people<br />
had presented to Acads for<br />
help. Those drugs plus<br />
cocainewereamong the<br />
seven drugs tested for<br />
regularly in <strong>Ashburton</strong>’s<br />
wastewater system since<br />
2018. In the first three<br />
monthsofthisyear<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong>’s drug use<br />
detection showed levelsof<br />
methamphetamineand<br />
MDMA.<br />
NationalDrug<br />
Intelligence Bureau<br />
manager Detective<br />
Inspector Blair<br />
MacDonald said the<br />
wastewater testing<br />
programme included46<br />
testing sites nationwide,<br />
coveringupto75percent<br />
of the total population.<br />
‘‘<strong>Ashburton</strong> (testedevery<br />
two months) wasadded to<br />
the national wastewater<br />
testing programmein<br />
November 2018, when the<br />
pilot programme was<br />
extended to include wider<br />
nationallocations.’’<br />
Acads is offering phone<br />
counselling to peopleuntil<br />
face to face counselling<br />
can resumeatAlert Level<br />
2.<br />
Anyone wanting help <br />
for themselvesorothers <br />
can contact the agency by<br />
phone (308 1270), or<br />
throughthe website<br />
(acads.co.nz).<br />
Behind the curtain in lockdown<br />
From Page 1<br />
Harry Weber wouldlike the<br />
circus to stay openafter<br />
lockdown is lifted.<br />
‘‘Once we openupagain<br />
we arehoping thecouncil<br />
willallow us to stay herefor<br />
an extra weekafter<br />
lockdown,sowecan honour<br />
ticketsand letall these<br />
people, especiallythe kids,<br />
comeand see the circus.’’<br />
His family andother<br />
performershave kept<br />
occupied duringlockdown<br />
practicing and training. The<br />
childrenget plenty of<br />
playtime andwalks around<br />
the park.<br />
Whennot in lockdownthe<br />
familyhave afullschedule<br />
withthe circus on the road<br />
48 weeks of theyear,<br />
touring throughoutNew<br />
Zealandand<br />
internationally.<br />
Theyhave also found<br />
timetostarintheirown<br />
reality TV showcalledThe<br />
Circus whichairedon<br />
Bravo,showing the lifeof<br />
the circus family and<br />
earning themthe ‘Kiwi<br />
Kardashians’ nickname.<br />
Seasonone is available<br />
online at ThreeNow.<br />
The wholeWeber family is<br />
involvedwiththe show.<br />
Circus owner Harry Weber<br />
and daughter Rosie,6,<br />
practiceashis wife Marie<br />
and other children watch.<br />
batteryshop.nz
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