‘If you don’t have a drug problem then the last thing you need is a conviction; if you do have a drug problem then the last thing you need is a conviction.’ This was the point Tom Lloyd, former chief constable of Cambridgeshire police (UK) and international drugs policy advisor, made to the British Home Affairs Select Committee drug conference in 2015. It still holds true.
On Monday, we will see the NSW Drug Summit come to Lismore for one of the four days – only two in Sydney and two in the regions! – set aside to hear about the impacts of existing drug laws and possible future changes to these laws. The summit will bring together health experts, police, people with lived and living experiences, drug user organisations, families and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives, according to NSW Health.
The summit will focus on: health promotion and wellbeing, equity, respect and inclusion, safety and justice, keeping young people safe and supporting families, and integrated support and social services.
As a parent, especially one in the Northern Rivers, ‘keeping young people safe’ is where my focus tends to end up, and having any of my kids end up in the criminal justice system as a result of dabbling in a few drugs would be a bad outcome. But even worse would be if they were permanently injured, or died.
What I would like to see is a change of focus in NSW from punitive measures to a focus on a health-based approach. That would include, at a minimum, decriminalisation of small amounts of illicit drugs, impairment-based roadside drug testing, and quick and easy drug testing for anyone who has bought a drug with the intention of using it recreationally.
Both decriminalisation and impairment-based roadside drug testing would remove the threat of ending up with a criminal record and it also facilitates more effective education programs about the use of, and dangers of, drugs.
Twelve months ago small amounts of illicit drugs were decriminalised in the ACT, with anti-drug campaigners such as Coalition Senator Michaelia Cash, warning that people would visit Canberra ‘hoping to experience the ACT’s party lifestyle, ending in addiction … and even death’. (abc.net.au). Twelve months on? ‘ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said, “we haven’t seen a significant change in behaviour at all”.’
And in regards to those dangers, pill or drug testing facilities, as have been introduced in Queensland, give anyone who is thinking about taking a drug a chance to dodge death by being able to get their drugs tested.
When I interviewed emergency medicine consultant Dr David Caldicott at the Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival, the first Queensland festival to have drug testing available, it became clear what the benefits of these facilities are. Not only were they able to inform people if the drugs they were considering taking were potentially more dangerous than they thought they were, they were able to educate people about drugs and their risks. That’s what works. That’s what we need here in NSW.
You can have your say at: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/drug-summit.
Aslan Shand, editor
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