RECEIVE UPDATESAlcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
The ACT Greens believe:
1. illicit and licit drug use has a wide range of adverse health, social and economic effects
2. alcohol and tobacco are the drugs inflicting the greatest harm on individuals, families and our society
3. a harm minimisation approach that recognises the need for cultural change and a long-term commitment across government agencies is the best way to reduce negative impacts of drug use
4. problems associated with the use of illicit drugs are best addressed within a health and social framework
5. prevention of, and early intervention in, problematic drug use is preferable to curing its harmful effects
6. a balanced mix of resources should be adopted to reduce demand, harm and supply
7. policy and programs concerning drugs, drug users and their families should be evidence-based and subject to continual evaluation
8. information and education programs are necessary for informed debate about the effects of all drugs, including prescription, non-prescription, licit and illicit drugs
9. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have a right to be engaged to facilitate maximum community control over harm minimisation policies and programs, and to gauge their effects on individuals and families.
The ACT Greens want:
1. to minimise death, disease, crime and corruption resulting from drug use
2. to reduce the harmful use of drugs
3. effective management, treatment, regulatory, and judicial responses to drug use in the community
4. effective treatment and care of people with co-morbidity (mental illness and problematic drug use)
5. to combat the high rate of blood-borne diseases resulting from drug use in gaols and other places of detention
6. adequate support and services for families with a member adversely affected by the use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
1. The ACT Greens do not support the legalisation of any currently illicit drugs.
The ACT Greens support:
2. including the ACT community in developing an improved health and social framework for licit and illicit drug regulation
3. promoting and strengthening evidence-based alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention and intervention programs, particularly for young people
4. the inclusion of evidence-based education on the effects of problematic drug use in all ACT schools’ curriculums
5. providing and adequately resourcing an appropriate variety of evidence-based programs and support services to minimise the harm suffered by drug users, their families and the community
6. increasing funding for effective programs supporting the families of those with a drug dependency
7. significantly increasing the quantity and quality of co-morbidity diagnosis and treatment programs
8. regularly evaluating and reviewing the effectiveness of drug policy and programs, prioritising programs that are demonstrably effective
9. implementing effective evidence based peer support programs
10. introducing professional standards and registration for drug and alcohol services and workers, along with training to meet those standards
11. civil sanctions for personal use of illicit drugs when not associated with other crimes, including measures such as education, counselling and treatment, commensurate with specific cases and circumstances
12. criminal penalties for:
12.1. those convicted of drug trafficking offences
12.2. those driving while under the influence of drugs which impair cognitive functioning or psychomotor skills
13. research to improve processes for, and accuracy of, detection of alcohol and other drugs that impair cognitive or psychomotor skills in drivers
14. increasing access to, and adequately resourcing, diversionary programs to rehabilitate and treat people with problematic drug use in the criminal justice system
15. amending regulations to ensure public and commercial smoking areas are completely open
16. ensuring that a harm minimisation approach consistent with the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT) is pursued in all detention centres, including the trial (in the Alexander Maconochie Centre) of a needle and syringe program on health and safety grounds
17. subsidising effective ‘quit smoking’ programs and those aimed at reducing problematic alcohol consumption
18. further restricting the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of alcohol and tobacco products
19. cooperating with other Australian governments to improve the system of mandatory health warnings on alcohol, tobacco and other drug products
20. further restricting the availability of licit and illicit drugs where ease of availability is shown to be causing problematic drug use.
