National Drug Strategy

Last updated

The National Drug Strategy (NDS) is the national drug regulation organization which maintains drug policy of the Australian Government. It began with its first framework in 1998 and has regularly formulated the Australian approach to drug education, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention of substance abuse. It is directed by the Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum (MDAF) who use the NDS to implement and monitor the effectiveness of Australian drug policy at all levels of government. The MDAF consists of various elected Commonwealth and State Ministers, as well as civil servants. The aim of the NDS is to minimise the harms associated with licit and illicit drugs by reducing demand, supply, and harm in a holistic approach to the social, individual, and economic problems created by drugs. [1] Its main function is establishing a set of policies, implemented at state and local level, that promote research-based solutions to the complex issues presented by drug use in society. The NDS has been responsible for introduction of several harm minimisation programs specifically placed in areas with a demographic deemed high-risk. Through the various iterations of the NDS it has faced increasing scrutiny over its perceived divergence from its original purpose, as well as perpetuating policies which allocate resources inefficiently.

Contents

History

The original NDS began in 1998, when it produced its first document directing the policy of the Liberal government's "Tough on Drugs" campaign. However, the NDS was not the first example of a liberalised approach to drug use in Australia. The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), the predecessor of the NDS, was introduced by the Hawke government in 1984 as a national response to the heroin and AIDS epidemics, as well as the rapid rise of use of many forms of drugs, illicit and licit. The initial NCADA campaign was the first Australian policy formulation process to include the concept of harm minimisation, as opposed to a zero-tolerance approach. Zero-tolerance characterised earlier drug policies globally but research slowly began to demonstrate that its lacked the ability to “reduce the related harmful effects of drug abuse as much as possible”. [2] The incorporation of harm minimisation strategies became an applauded element of the NCADA as it advised perceiving detrimental drug use as a health issue as well as a criminal issue. This combination of judiciary and health in drug policy was considered a positive and radical step, especially in contrast to the aggressive War on Drugs in America in the 1970s. [3] Policy experts noted how “it provided a basis for consultation and cooperation among health, education and law enforcement agencies”. [4] This was the origin of research-based strategies as a foundation of the NDS. Harm minimisation remained the core element of drug policy in Australia for the duration of the NCADA as well as when it morphed into the NDS. The NCADA was renamed the NDS in 1993, but its NCADA-based format did not change. Then, in 1998, the NDS reworked its policy framework into a form similar to the frameworks used today. Official strategic frameworks produced by the NDS were reissued in 2004, 2010, and 2017. They all promote holistic harm minimisation through three pillars: demand reduction, supply reduction, and harm reduction.

Current setting

The current framework of the NDS is from 2017 and will be in effect until 2026. Akin to previous frameworks produced by the NDS, harm minimisation remains the focus of this document with the three pillars aiming to provide a balanced policy approach. The language of the framework mimics previous NDS documents. The focus of this framework lies on specific groups with a higher perceived risk of harm from drugs, as well as an increased attention to certain drugs. Notable groups include Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderPeople, people with mental health conditions, and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or intersex. This focus exists due to the data indicating that these groups have a higher risk of drug abuse and are less resourced to combat this high risk. Drugs that have been identified as a priority are methamphetamines, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, and new psychoactive substances. [5] The MDAF has several current policy documents that branch directly from the NDS. These strategies attempt to build on the priorities of the NDS by addressing problematic communities and drug problems. Current strategies in action that are facilitated by the NDS include

It is the stated intention of the NDS that this current framework would remain unchanged for a decade as a reflection of the Australian Government and the MDAF's unchanging commitment to harm minimisation. [6]

Effects

The effects of the various NDS frameworks on the Australian healthcare and education systems is considerable. Initially, however, the most prominent effect was the early adoption of harm minimisation into drug policy. The effect of this can be seen in harm minimisation implementation, such as the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Kings Cross, Sydney, as well as over 3500 safe Needle and Syringe programs in all major Australian cities. [7] Increasing drug education fits into both harm minimisation and demand minimisation and has accordingly been adopted by state education systems across Australia. Life Ready, in NSW, is one such example of an education syllabus informed by the NDS. A 25-hour course, it endeavours to encourage students to “plan, develop and evaluate strategies to support the independence, health, safety and wellbeing of self and others” Within this are tools and strategies to minimise the harm associated with drugs. [8] Another effect of the NDS is a greater insight into the drug habits of Australians through their Household Survey. The results of the survey are essential to the NDS continuing to adapt their policy to the Australian drug landscape.

National Drug Strategy Household Survey

The NDS Household Survey is the main interaction of the Australian Government with the population in terms of drug use. The collection is supervised by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in conjunction with the Department of Health. It has been conducted since the inception of the NDS in 1998. Its target audience ranges from teenagers to pensioners and aims to form a complete picture of Australian drug usage, taking into account a range of licit and illicit drugs, and the frequency of use. Fieldwork for the Survey has been conducted by Roy Morgan Research every three years since 2007.

Criticism

The main criticisms of the NDS have slowly developed as the outcomes of the strategies have been realised. The main academic critique of NDS policy has been the divide between its written commitment to harm minimisation and outcomes that don't reflect a commitment to harm minimisation. In 2010, over two thirds of illicit drug expenditure was spent on law enforcement. [9] In an assessment of the impact of drug use on families, former speaker of the house Bronwyn Bishop noted that the NDS should “continue its allocation of significant resources to policing activity as [it is] a highly effective prevention method”. [10] This does not reflect the emphasis that harm minimisation policy puts on healthcare for drug users. In contrast, experts from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre suggest that a “public health perspective” the opposite of what Bishop was proposing, “would… address information and strategies that promote greater safety for those who choose to experiment”, [9] rather than promoting the criminality of the use of certain drugs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drug prohibition</span> Prohibition of drugs through law

The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to prevent the recreational use of certain intoxicating substances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substance abuse</span> Harmful use of drugs

Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods that are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, medical, and criminal justice contexts. In some cases, criminal or anti-social behavior occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long-term personality changes in individuals may also occur. In addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, the use of some drugs may also lead to criminal penalties, although these vary widely depending on the local jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harm reduction</span> Public health policies which lessen negative aspects of problematic activities

Harm reduction, or harm minimization, refers to a range of intentional practices and public health policies designed to lessen the negative social and/or physical consequences associated with various human behaviors, both legal and illegal. Harm reduction is used to decrease negative consequences of recreational drug use and sexual activity without requiring abstinence, recognizing that those unable or unwilling to stop can still make positive change to protect themselves and others.

Commonly-cited arguments for and against the prohibition of drugs include the following:

Alcohol education is the practice of disseminating disinformation about the effects of alcohol on health, as well as society and the family unit. It was introduced into the public schools by temperance organizations such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in the late 19th century. Initially, alcohol education focused on how the consumption of alcoholic beverages affected society, as well as the family unit. In the 1930s, this came to also incorporate education pertaining to alcohol's effects on health. For example, even light and moderate alcohol consumption increases cancer risk in individuals. Organizations such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in the United States were founded to promulgate alcohol education alongside those of the temperance movement, such as the American Council on Alcohol Problems.

Drug education is the planned provision of information, guidelines, resources, and skills relevant to living in a world where psychoactive substances are widely available and commonly used for a variety of both medical and non-medical purposes, some of which may lead to harms such as overdose, injury, infectious disease, or addiction. The two primary approaches to drug education are harm-reduction education and abstinence-based education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kely Support Group</span>

KELY Support Group is a non-governmental bilingual organisation in Hong Kong which aims to provide support to youth between the ages of 14 and 24. Its programmes and services focus on prevention and intervention of alcoholism and other drug abuse, and are designed to tackle what the group regards as the common reasons for abuse such as boredom, peer pressure, lack of self-awareness, low self-esteem, poverty, unemployment and discrimination.

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) describes itself as "the principal advisory body to Government on drug policy and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug related policies and strategies." The Council occupies a unique position by virtue of its role in enhancing the partnership between the government and the community. It has pivotal advisory, advocacy and representative functions, with a significant role to provide government Ministers with independent, expert advice on matters related to licit and illicit drugs.

Illicit drug use in Australia is the recreational use of prohibited drugs in Australia. Illicit drugs include illegal drugs, pharmaceutical drugs when used for non-medical purposes, and other substances used inappropriately. According to government and community organisations, the use and abuse, and the illegality, of illicit drugs is a social, health and legal issue that creates an annual illegal market estimated to be worth A$6.7 billion. Estimates made in 2022 place the figure at A$11.3 billion per year.

DrinkWise Australia is an organisation that employs social marketing strategies and develops educational initiatives aimed at addressing issues related to drinking culture and underage drinking. The organisation's approach is to provide information and resources to the community, emphasising responsible alcohol consumption. It operates based on a framework that encourages collaboration between the alcohol industry and community entities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substance use disorder</span> Continual use of drugs (including alcohol) despite detrimental consequences

Substance use disorder (SUD) is the persistent use of drugs despite substantial harm and adverse consequences to self and others. Related terms include substance use problems and problematic drug or alcohol use.

Responsible drug use seeks to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks associated with psychoactive drug use. For illegal psychoactive drugs that are not diverted prescription controlled substances, some critics believe that illegal recreational drug use is inherently irresponsible, due to the unpredictable and unmonitored strength and purity of the drugs and the risks of addiction, infection, and other side effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Managed alcohol program</span> Harm-reduction program for chronic alcoholics

A managed alcohol program is a program meant to reduce harm for chronic alcoholics. The program involves providing a regular dose of alcohol to individuals with alcohol addiction, typically at a shelter-based harm reduction centre.

Education sector responses to substance abuse refers to the way in which the education sector strategizes, developments and implements policies and practices that address the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs in educational settings.

Gerry Stimson is a British public health social scientist, emeritus professor at Imperial College London from 2004, and an honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine from 2017. Stimson has over 220 scientific publications mainly on social and health aspects of illicit drug use, including HIV infection. He has sat on numerous editorial boards including AIDS, Addiction, and European Addiction Research, and with Tim Rhodes he was the co-editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Drug Policy from 2000 to 2016. He is one of the global leaders for research on and later advocacy for harm reduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian National Task Force on Cannabis</span>

The Australian National Task Force on Cannabis (NTFC) was a specialised unit formed in April 1992 under the aegis of the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS) who are responsible for implementing national consistency in policy principles related to Australia's National Drug Strategy.

Discrimination against people with substance use disorders is a form of discrimination against people with this disease. In the United States, people with substance use disorders are often blamed for their disease, which is often seen as a moral failing, due to a lack of public understanding about substance use disorders being diseases of the brain with 40-60% heritability. People with substance use disorders are likely to be stigmatized, whether in society or healthcare.

Mariajuana Smoking in Panama is the title of a 1933 report created by United States Army Medical Corps Colonel Joseph Franklin Siler for the Commanding General of the Army's Panama Canal Department concerning cannabis (marijuana) use by U.S. military members. Use at that time in the Panama Canal Zone, then a U.S. territory, was a concern for military discipline and health.

Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by residents living in all isolated, remote and rural regions in Australia. Alcohol consumption is particularly misused by individuals in these areas due to numerous factors distinctive of rural Australia. These factors consist of the reduced access to education and health care professionals with alcohol treatment services, leading to higher rates of unemployment and economic disadvantage. These characteristics promote increased levels of disease, injury and death as a result of the high alcohol-related harms that are substantial in rural communities across Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pompidou Group</span> European drug policy cooperation platform

The Council of Europe International Cooperation Group on Drugs and Addiction, also known as Pompidou Group is the co-operation platform of the Council of Europe on matters of drug policy currently composed of 42 countries. It was established as an ad'hoc inter-governmental platform in 1971 until its incorporation into the Council of Europe in 1980. Its headquarters are in Strasbourg, France.

References

  1. ↑ Health, Australian Government Department of (2019-02-06). "National Drug Strategy 2017–2026". Australian Government Department of Health. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  2. ↑ Tsui, Ming-Sum (2000). "The Harm Reduction Approach Revisited: An International Perspective". International Social Work. 43: 243–251.
  3. ↑ McDonald, David (1987). "Australia's National Campaign Against Drug Abuse". Australian Drug and Alcohol Review,. 6: 169–170.
  4. ↑ Dillon, Paul (1995). "The National Drug Strategy : the First Ten Years and Beyond". National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.
  5. ↑ Health, Australian Government Department of (2019-02-06). p18 "National Drug Strategy 2017–2026" Australian Government Department of Health. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  6. ↑ Health, Australian Government Department of (2019-02-06). "National Drug Strategy 2017–2026". Australian Government Department of Health. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  7. ↑ Dolan, Kate (2005). "Needle and syringe programs A review of the evidence". Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
  8. ↑ "Course content | Curriculum". education.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  9. 1 2 Ritter, Alison (2013). "Government Drug Policy Expenditure in Australia – 2009-2010". National Drug and Alcohol Centre.
  10. ↑ Bishop, Bronwyn (2007). "The Winnable War on Drugs : the Impact of Illicit Drug Use on Families". Canberra: Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.