2024-08-31
The ACT Greens have today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, announced a plan to further de-stigmatise drug use, ensure more people have access to support and save lives.
“People take drugs. They always have and always will. We need to take a genuine health approach to drug use to remove the stigma, increase access to care and literally save lives,” said Emma Davidson, re-contesting MLA for Murrumbidgee.
“Decades of stigma about drug use has made it harder for people to get health advice and care before they reach a crisis point, like hospitalisation, being institutionalised in the justice system, or premature death.
“We’ll get better health outcomes when we provide more support, that is easily accessed, free to the individual and treats them with the respect and care we all deserve.
“With Greens in the ACT Government, we have achieved the decriminalisation of cannabis and other illicit substances, the nation’s first fixed drug-testing site and delivery of needle and syringe programs.
“We know ending drug use is not realistic, so it’s our priority to reduce harm and increase safety wherever possible.
“We will go further, faster to truly treat drug use fairly as a health issue, put more support in place to complement drug decriminalisation, and ensure people have access to services that literally save lives.”
The ACT Greens will:
- Establish a supervised overdose prevention service
- Permanently fund Canberra’s fixed-site drug testing service, CanTEST, beyond June 2027
- Establish a peer-oriented care program for events and festivals
- Support Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to deliver harm reduction programs
- Establish a peer support service in Canberra’s south
- Identify how to improve availability and diversity of opioid dependency treatments
- Establish a Harm Reduction Taskforce
- Support community health promotion activities
Greens candidate for Murrumbidgee Harini Rangarajan, said the new care program at festivals and events will boost health support, particularly for young people.
“There are a lot of people who drink alcohol and use drugs at festivals. We already have drug checking in the ACT, but adding a peer-based care program similar to Red Frogs will mean there are people looking out for you and ready to help if you need it.
“If you use drugs, you won’t know what’s in it unless you test it. That’s why we need CanTEST to be a permanent service.
“A new harm reduction service in Canberra’s south will be amazing for people in my electorate who could find it hard to get to the drop-in centre operating in Belconnen.
“Replicating that service on the southside will provide primary healthcare, peer education sessions, a needle and syringe program and case management close to where people live,” Ms Rangarajan said.
The ACT Greens’ drug harm reduction policy is estimated to cost $14.7 million over the next four years of government. Investment in community health and social services will support people to make safer choices, and reduce demand on the more expensive hospital and justice systems.
This initiative builds on our earlier announcements to make health services more accessible and free for the Canberra community. The policy is available on the ACT Greens website.