Reducing Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Harm

Harm minimisation policies are those directed towards reducing the adverse health, social and economic consequences of drug or substance use.

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

  1. Harm minimisation approaches are frequently the most appropriate way to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of alcohol and other drug use.
  2. First Nations communities reserve their right to self determine their responses to alcohol and other drugs use within their families and communities 
  3. People with lived experience of dependency and recovery should be involved in the co-design of alcohol and other drug policies and programs.
  4. Policies and programs should reduce stigma for people with alcohol and other drug use disorders and their families. Programs should be evidence- based, coordinated and continually evaluated. 
  5. Alcohol and nicotine policy development should occur without alcohol and tobacco company involvement.
  6. Everyone engaged in high-risk alcohol and other drug use should have equitable access to a range of treatment and support services that are evidence-based and regularly evaluated.
  7. Evidence-based community education and programs about alcohol and other drugs are effective and should be prioritised.
  8. A coordinated health and social framework is the best way for all levels of government to address alcohol and other drug issues.
  9. The individual use of illegal drugs should be decriminalised.
  10. The current punitive approach to drug use has failed to stop illicit drugs use. 
  11. Any regulatory framework for drugs used for non-medical purposes should be informed by evidence and the principles of harm-minimisation. 
  12. There should be greater funding for demand- and harm-reduction.
  13. Drug and alcohol dependency within First Nations communities and families  is a health issue and must be treated as such. 

Aims

The Australian Greens want:

  1. A reduction in high-risk uses of alcohol, nicotine, tobacco and other drugs to close to zero.
  2. To increase public awareness of the risk of alcohol use and greater awareness of consumption guidelines to bring consumption patterns within the range recommended by public health experts.
  3. Improved effectiveness of all management, treatment and other regulatory and judicial responses to drug or substance use in the community, to reduce demand, minimise harm, and improve health and social outcomes.
  4. Greater funding for alcohol and other drug services to close the significant service gap between demand and service provision, and greater funding to pursue demand reduction and harm reduction more generally.
  5. Re-establish a governance framework for the alcohol and other drug sector, including an inter-governmental committee responsible for the implementation of National Drug and Alcohol Strategies, policies and programs to reduce harm.
  6. To legalise the production, sale and use of cannabis and cannabis products for recreational use.
  7. To decriminalise the personal use, possession and non-commercial sale of drugs.
  8. Universal access to drug, substance and alcohol treatment programs.
  9. An increase in public dissemination of evidence-based information on the risks, effects, and safe use of alcohol and other drugs.
  10. To regulate the growing and possession of cannabis and cannabis-derived products for personal and medical use.
  11. Increased availability of harm reduction programs including drug-substitution therapy, medically supervised user rooms, widely accessible supply of clean needles and equipment (including in prisons), and provision of free drug checking (including at community events).
  12. Increased public funding for drug substitution options.
  13. The removal of legal barriers to both research and the evidence-based management of substance-abuse and other medical conditions, where considered necessary by the public health community.
  14. Penalties that are based on evidence and risk management, for driving with impaired cognitive or psychomotor skills due to the consumption of drugs or other substances.
  15. To address the problem of inhalant misuse by supporting the rollout of measures, such as non-sniffable fuel throughout regions of Australia where petrol sniffing is a problem, as well as associated diversionary and rehabilitation programs.
  16. Targeted health promotion strategies to promote healthier attitudes and behaviours towards drinking, smoking and drug use, including among marginalised and diverse communities.
  17. Treatment programs which must avoid stigma, be culturally safe, and adopt the social model of disability. They are to be funded to allow for individual tailoring including addressing individual, gender, sexuality, cultural or disability barriers.
  18. Increased support for programs that address risk factors for substance abuse, such as family violence, sexual assault, and trauma.
  19. To support research trials and rigorous evaluation of alcohol and other drug treatments and programs.
  20. To extend the range of counselling and treatment programs covered by Medicare.
  21. Criminal penalties for the trafficking or production of commercial quantities of illicit drugs.
  22. Measures such as timely access to education, counselling, and treatment to be the first response for people with an addiction to drugs and other substances.
  23. Alcohol and other drug diversion, treatment and rehabilitation programs to be a sentencing option for people convicted of non-violent crimes, and to be included in restorative justice programs.
  24. No alcohol or tobacco company sponsorship, or advertising or promotion in sport.
  25. All alcoholic products to be taxed based on alcohol content.
  26. A ban on donations from the tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical industries to political parties and candidates.
  27. Australia to lead the world in reducing the consumption of tobacco products.
  28. Increased assistance to support programs to quit smoking and vaping, and treatment strategies for nicotine dependence.
  29. To remove legislative barriers to the production, regulated importation and supply of currently illegal drugs for use in research and medicine, where a need is demonstrated by appropriate scientific and medical authorities.
  30. To continue to reduce the effects of passive smoking, by disallowing smoking in defined public spaces.
  31. To expunge convictions for drug use or possessions of a drug for personal use when a particular drug becomes legal or decriminalised.
  32. To end the practice of using drug detection animals and strip searches in public places.
  33. To ensure the provision of free and reliable testing for intoxication due to recreational substances, including alcohol, at relevant community events and festivals, and licensed venues.
  34. Therapeutic programs funded for First Nations communities which include cultural and therapeutic practices that enable recovery from transgenerational trauma and acculturation which are culture, community and evidence based and include family and community recovery options.
  35. To ensure that alcohol and tobacco companies do not influence public policy development and research, and that public health outcomes are prioritised.
  36. Restrictions on all forms of alcohol marketing and promotions, including point-of-sale promotions, packaging, labelling, and targeted digital advertising.

(Reducing Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Harm Policy as amended by National Conference June 2023)

The Australian Greens recognise that many people may experience co-occurring mental and physical disability and alcohol and other drug issues, and understand the importance of connected, wrap-around supports. Please refer to related policies for further information. 

Related policies: