The Chronicle

Op shop here to help

Drug ARM celebrates opening

- SEAN WHITE Sean.White@thechronic­le.com.au If you need help with alcohol or drug use and mental health issues phone the Drug ARM Intake Team on 3620 8880.

DRUG ARM Australasi­a Toowoomba Op Shop manager Eseta Aupaau was happy to see the community support at the grand opening of its new op shop.

Store volunteers, customers, community leaders and Drug Arm’s management were all present at yesterday’s opening.

“It has been a great and positive journey in the lead-up to today,” Miss Aupaau said.

Drug ARM Australasi­a chief advocate Dr Dennis Young said the opening was a way for Drug ARM to generate more interest and more income, so it could continue to develop and deliver more programs to Toowoomba.

“Currently we are delivering programs and services in Ipswich, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe and Goondiwind­i,” Dr Young said.

“We have a successful store at the Southtown Shopping Centre and we’ve now opened this one and then once this shop gets establishe­d we will then look where our future expansions will be.”

Programs offered at the Drug ARM Toowoomba include a family support program, drug and alcohol assessment­s and referrals and more.

Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Cr Paul Antonio said the opening was a happy occasion.

“Considerin­g the work that goes into Drug ARM, the volunteers around the table do so much work to make this a better place and they’re the people we should be thankful for,” Cr Antonio said.

“There are so many groups of good people in Toowoomba and I think we should start branding ourselves as a compassion­ate region.”

 ?? Photo: Sean White ?? COMMUNITY SUPPORT: At the grand opening of the Drug Arm new op shop at the Red Edge Shopping Centre are (from left) Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio, Eseta Aupaau and Dr Dennis Young.
Photo: Sean White COMMUNITY SUPPORT: At the grand opening of the Drug Arm new op shop at the Red Edge Shopping Centre are (from left) Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio, Eseta Aupaau and Dr Dennis Young.

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