Australian Greens health spokesperson and former drug and alcohol clinician, Senator Richard Di Natale, today announced the Greens’ call for a National Drugs Summit to chart a way forward on illicit drugs policy.
“The current approach to drugs is not working,” said Senator Di Natale. “Doctors around the country see the terrible health effects every day and hundreds of Australians die every year. We need to move away from sending drug users through the criminal justice system and treat the problem like the health issue it really is.”
Senator Di Natale also committed the Greens support for a Productivity Commission inquiry into the issue of illicit drugs.
“We need to have a close look at the costs of the current approach. They are in the billions each year. A change of direction starting with a much greater investment in treatment and public health would not only save lives and keep families together but could save a fortune in direct and social costs.
“The status quo is not working. The Greens care for people and will always put the health of the community first.”
Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600
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NATIONAL DRUGS SUMMIT
A HEALTH APPROACH TO ILLICIT DRUGS
TheGreens' new approach to the war on drugs
Despite billions of dollars of publicmoney and decades of
policing, we havemade little difference to the supply and
use ofillicit drugs. Instead we aremaking the problem
worse by criminalising young people and driving the
problemunderground. TheGreens care about keeping
people healthy and keeping familiestogether. We will
lead a national discussion aboutfinding a better way.
Former politicians and police are increasingly happy to say what
public health experts have been pointing outfor a long time –
the war on drugs has notreduced the harms of illicit drug use.
Locking up someone for using cannabis,for example, imposes
enormous harmon thatindividual and comes at an enormous
costto society.Only theGreens are willing to stand up in
Parliament and ask the question – “Isthere a better way?”
> A NEW APPROACH TO ILLICIT DRUGS
TheGreens have long joined calls by the public health
community,former world leaders, and experienced police to
end the use of criminal penaltiesto penalise drug users. A
comprehensive approach to substance abuse willrequire a new
approach frompolice, health services, prisons and all levels of
government. Therefore,theGreens will:
• Immediately convene a national drugssummit, bringing
together health experts, police and governmentto discuss a
new way forward on illicit drugs;
• Task the Productivity Commission with an inquiry into the
costs and benefits ofthe current approach and alternative,
health focused ways of dealing with the problem.
> A HEALTH PROBLEM
Addiction to illicit drugs, justlike alcoholism, is a health
problem. When somebody issuffering fromaddiction,the
threat of criminal penalties cannot compare with the urgent
signalsthey are receiving fromtheir own body.
Every year 400 Australians die fromusing illicit drugsi
, andmany
more suffersevere health impacts. Public health experts have
for a long time been saying that people need treatment, not
incarceration. The nationalsummit will include health experts
who work every day with affected people.
> ECONOMIC COMMON SENSE
The policing of our currentillicit drugsstrategy coststhe country
more than $2.5 billion a year
ii
. Thisisfar outweighed by the
social costs, which are well over an extra $8b per annum.
iii
Australia can save on the direct costs of policing and the social
costs ofthe current policy. The Productivity Commission would
be tasked with a thorough analysis ofthe costs and benefits,
including the costs of crime, policing and prisons; ourspending
on treatment; and justice reinvestment.
> A MORE CARING APPROACH
Whilemany former politicians have called for a new approach
to drugs policy – andmany serving politicians will do so
privately – the debate in Australia hassuffered froma lack of
leadership. Law and order politics and a fear of being depicted
as “soft on crime” have delayed reformfortoo long.
TheGreens’ care about health and we are willing to listen to the
evidence.Our policy is based on public health and human rights
principles. The nationalsummit on illicit drugs will bring all
sectors ofsociety togetherto chart a course forreformguided
by this new approach.
i
Australia21 report on illicit drugs policy,
http://www.australia21.org.au/our_research/illicit_drugs.html
ii “The Cost ofthe War on Drugs” Sydney MorningHerald,October 3, 2009
iii Australia21
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