Australia’s Drug Policy

Greg DenhamNossal Institute for Global Health

From a policy perspective, how do Australian

Governments deal with the issue of

substance use?

Australia’s Drug Policy

Background

•first developed in 1985

•redeveloped every 5 years

•governs State and Territory policy

•sets framework for activities in health, education, law enforcement, etc.

•links to State Drug Strategies with input from law enforcement, education, health, etc.

‘To improve health, social and economic

outcomes by preventing the uptake of harmful

drug use and reducing the harmful effects of

licit and illicit drugs in Australian Society.’

Mission

Objectives:

•Prevent the uptake of harmful drug use

•Reduce the supply and use of illicit drugs

•Reduce risk behaviours associated with drug use

•Increase access to a greater range of high-quality treatment prevention and treatment services

Objectives:

•Promote evidence-informed practice through research, monitoring drug use trends and developing workforce organisations and systems

•Increase community understanding of drug-related harm

•Strengthen existing partnerships and build new partnerships to reduce drug-related harm

National Drug Strategy

Success based on:

•principle of harm minimisation that recognises a range of approaches

•comprehensiveness of the approach that includes both licit and illicit drugs

•promotion of partnerships between agencies; health, police, education etc

•a cooperative, balanced approach b/n state & federal govts & NGO’s

Minimising drug-related harm

Harm Minimisation includes activities in three major areas:

•Supply reduction

•Demand reduction

•Harm reduction

Supply Reduction

…measures that aim to prevent or reduce inappropriate access to drugs, primarily through regulation, legislation and law enforcement.

Examples of supply reduction strategies include targeting the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit and licit drugs…..

Supply Reduction

•International Conventions restricting the availability and use of illicit drugs

•Federal and State laws

•State policing strategies that disrupt the production and supply of illicit drugs

•controlled access to licit drugs e.g. pharmaceuticals - alcohol - tobacco

Supply Reduction

As a member of the United Nations, Australia supports these conventions. Australia is a signatory to the conventions and our national policies accordingly comply.

Demand Reduction

…measures that aim to reduce the actual use

of drugs by preventing or discouraging any

use and reducing current use.

Key activities include community and school

education, diversion programs and referral

treatment services.

Demand Reduction

•school and community based drug education

•detoxification, rehabilitation, substitute therapy, specialist treatment

•identification, intervention and referral programs linking criminal justice and drug treatment systems

Harm Reduction

Harm reduction, or risk reduction measures, aim

to prevent or reduce specific harms associated

with drug use without necessarily reducing drug

use itself.

Primary activities include promotion of safer drug

use…substitute therapies….strategies targeting

workplace harms…...

Harm Reduction

•risk reduction measures (e.g. overdose)

•occupational health and safety (OE)

•safer use strategies

•needle/syringe programs (NSP)

•methadone maintenance therapy (MMT)

Rationale

•we live in a drug taking society - most people use drugs - drugs serve a purpose

•there is potential harm in any drug taking situation

•we will not necessarily eliminate use

•drug use can impact on individuals, families, communities, workplaces

© Copyright The University of Melbourne 2008