Page 464 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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divert users of alcohol and illicit drugs away from the justice system and towards the health services that they need. In 2005 we began operating syringe vending machines to provide access to safe and sterile injecting equipment for people who may be reluctant or unable to attend a needle exchange service in person.
In 2012 the ACT brought in the first peer-administered Naloxone program in Australia, providing a way for the friends or family members of opioid users to respond quickly and save their lives in the event of a serious drug overdose.
In 2016 we introduced the Canberra night crew to reduce the harms from alcohol and other drug use in our city’s main entertainment precinct late at night. Other jurisdictions have taken a different approach, a prohibition approach, by implementing policies like the New South Wales lockout laws, which have hurt local businesses, killed the nightlife scene in many precincts where they are in place, and harmed Sydney’s reputation as a global city, as well as simply spreading the harm to other parts of Sydney. In contrast, the Canberra night crew provides a safe space for people affected by alcohol and other drugs to receive assistance from members of the Red Cross and volunteers, without judgement or risk of arrest.
More recently the ACT has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to trial pill testing at a major music event, with the pilot run at Groovin the Moo last year. The results of this trial were clear: strong use by attendees, two potentially deadly chemicals identified, dozens of pills thrown away. We have just agreed to provide a supportive environment for a second trial to take place later this year when the festival is held at Exhibition Park.
This year we are also continuing to invest in the development of a drug and alcohol court, as committed to in the parliamentary agreement, to help reduce recidivism by responding to people’s addictions and broader challenges instead of taking a purely punitive approach.
The harm associated with drug use can take a number of different forms. These obviously differ significantly depending on the type of drug. In the case of cannabis, there are a range of harms we are particularly concerned about.
There are health and potential addiction effects. Research on the medical effects of cannabis is limited and does not point to the same kinds of major health or addiction issues that are associated with synthetic illicit drugs. However, it is clear that some people do experience adverse mental health effects from using cannabis and that its use can become problematic over time. Prohibition is preventing people from seeking medical and other types of help when they need it, because of the stigma and the risk of punishment associated with drug use. Legalisation means we can better reach people who are already using the drug and connect them with services and supports when they need them.
There are justice effects. At the moment, possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use can bring people into contact with the justice system in ways that can have serious and lasting consequences. We know that our police are working hard to keep Canberrans safe, and our courts naturally have more cases to hear as our city’s
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