National Drug Strategy

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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 (AIHW) 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

Harm reduction Public health policies designed to lessen the negative consequences associated with human behavior

Harm reduction, or harm minimization, refers to a range of 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.

This article is intended to give an overview of several arguments for and against drug prohibition.

Demand reduction refers to efforts aimed at reducing the public desire for illegal and illicit drugs. The drug policy is in contrast to the reduction of drug supply, but the two policies are often implemented together. Some discussions of demand reduction make a distinction between policies that address single issues or are short-term interventions(in-school programs), and those that approach drug demand as a complex issue with multiple social risk factors. Some economists such as Milton Friedman argue that due to the law of supply and demand, reducing demand is the only effective way to reduce drug use long-term. It is questionable, however, whether demand reduction programs actually reduce demand.

Drug policy reform, also known as drug law reform, generally refers to proposed changes to the laws and regulations that governments promulgate with respect to substances that have psychoactive effects or a real or perceived potential to be used for recreational or other non-medical reasons. Proponents of drug policy reform frequently argue that prohibition of recreational drugs—such as cannabis, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines and hallucinogens—has been ineffective and counterproductive and that substance use is better responded to by implementing practices for harm reduction and increasing the availability of addiction treatment. Another reform proposed is to introduce a regulatory regime for the production, marketing, and distribution of some or all currently illegal drugs in a manner analogous to that for alcohol and tobacco.

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.

Kely Support Group

KELY Support Group is a non-governmental bilingual organisation in Hong Kong which aims to provide support to youth between the ages of 14 to 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.

Substance abuse prevention Measures to prevent the consumption of licit and illicit drugs

Substance abuse prevention, also known as drug abuse prevention, is a process that attempts to prevent the onset of substance use or limit the development of problems associated with using psychoactive substances. Prevention efforts may focus on the individual or their surroundings. A concept that is known as "environmental prevention" focuses on changing community conditions or policies so that the availability of substances is reduced as well as the demand. Individual Substance Abuse Prevention, also known as drug abuse prevention involves numerous amounts of different sessions depending on the individual to help cease or reduce the use of substances. The time period to help a specific individual can vary based upon many aspects of an individual. The type of Prevention efforts should be based upon the individual's necessities which can also vary pepsi. Substance use prevention efforts typically focus on minors – children and teens especially 12–35 years of age. Substances typically targeted by preventive efforts include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, coke, methamphetamine, steroids, club drugs, and opioids. Community advocacy against substance use is imperative due to the significant increase in opioid overdoses in the United States alone. It has been estimated that about one hundred and thirty individuals continue to lose their lives daily due to opioid overdoses alone.

Cannabis in Australia Recreational and medicinal drug use

Cannabis is a plant used in Australia for recreational, medicinal and industrial purposes. In 2019, 36% of Australians over the age of fourteen years had used cannabis in their lifetime and 11.6% had used cannabis in the last 12 months.

Heroin-assisted treatment Alternative medical treatment

Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT), or diamorphine assisted treatment, refers to a type of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) where semi-synthetic heroin is prescribed to opiate addicts who do not benefit from, or cannot tolerate, treatment with one of the established drugs used in opiate replacement therapy such as methadone or buprenorphine. For this group of patients, heroin-assisted treatment has proven superior in improving their social and health situation. It has also been shown to save money, as it significantly reduces costs incurred by trials, incarceration, health interventions and delinquency. It has also drastically reduced overdose deaths in the countries utilizing it, as patients take their dose in a controlled, professionally supervised setting, and Narcan (naloxone) is on hand in the case of an accidental overdose. Opiate related overdoses in the U.S. kill around 70,000 people per year.

Substance use disorder 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. Substance use disorders are characterized by an array of mental/emotional, physical, and behavioral problems such as chronic guilt; an inability to reduce or stop consuming the substance(s) despite repeated attempts; driving while intoxicated; and physiological withdrawal symptoms. Drug classes that are involved in SUD include: alcohol; cannabis; phencyclidine and other hallucinogens, such as arylcyclohexylamines; inhalants; opioids; sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics; stimulants; tobacco; and other or unknown substances.

Harm Reduction International, formerly known as International Harm Reduction Association, describes itself as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and works within harm reduction model in the field of harm reduction. In 1990, the first International Harm Reduction conference was held in Liverpool, England. As Liverpool was one of the first cities in Britain to instigate harm reduction policies, including opening one of the first government-funded needle exchanges under the 'Mersey Harm Reduction Model', the first International Harm Reduction Conference attracted a diverse range of harm reduction proponents, including academics, community workers, medical professionals and drug user activists.

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.

Australian National Task Force on Cannabis

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 drug addicts is a form of discrimination against people who suffer from a drug addiction.

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 in rural Australia 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.

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.
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