An international convention focusing on alcohol abuse victims will be held in Rarotonga for the first time, featuring international speakers who will raise awareness and provide support for individuals seeking to overcome alcohol addiction.

The convention to be held on Tuesday, October 22, at 9am at Tupapa Dome, will feature speakers from Australia and New Zealand.

Led by the Alcoholic Anonymous fellowship, the awareness aims to reduce the number of alcohol-related incidents in the Cook Islands, especially to help victims of alcohol abuse.

Matt of Alcoholic Anonymous said: “This is for people who don’t want to drink and don’t know how not to. So, people in the community that you keep seeing, like, the car accidents, the domestic violence, the child neglect stuff.”

“It’s that sort of stuff. Those are the people that we’re here for. Quite often, people who have problems with drinking in excess, they’re presenting at the police stations and in the courts with car accidents.

“They’re presenting at the police station with domestic violence incidents. They're presenting at the hospitals with injuries and mishaps and so just a continuation.”

There are approximately 20 members of Alcoholics Anonymous who are expected to join the fellowship. They are urging the community to participate and spread the message to anyone who is a victim of alcohol abuse.

The fellowship is also holding a weekly meeting at Te Kainga mental health facility on Mondays and Wednesdays, and every second Wednesdays at the Arorangi Prison.

The aim is to try and aid people to recover from alcoholism, help people who have problems with alcohol, arresting their problem a day at a time and helping each other stay sober using the programme of Alcoholics Anonymous.

“This session aims to inform professionals, police, social workers, counsellors, and any interested persons in our community about the assistance,” Matt added.

“Alcoholics Anonymous offers help in relation to alcohol abuse and the ripple effects that it has in our community and to our families.”