30/10/25 - NSW Government responds to Drug Summit Report
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation joins health experts and advocates in expressing disappointment in the New South Wales Government’s response to the 2024 Drug Summit Report recommendations.
The Foundation’s NSW Manager, Allison Reid said that although most of the report’s recommendations were either fully supported, or supported in principle, it was discouraging that no commitments were made around drug law reform.
“A health-based approach to drug use benefits the whole community, as it can help to reduce stigma, prompt more people to reach out for help and support, and reduce drug-related harms. Diverting people to the health system also frees up police time, so they can focus on the supply and trafficking of drugs,” Ms Reid explained.
“While not everyone experiences harm from their use of drugs, for those that do, often this has more to do with the other challenges they might be facing. In these situations, our role as a community is to help them with the support they need to be healthy and well,” she added.
Ms Reid said that she was pleased by key commitments announced by the NSW Government on Monday (28th October), including:
- Alcohol and Drug Strategy: A 10-year, whole-of-government strategy to be released in six -months, guided by a harm minimisation and interagency governance framework.
- Education: updated Principles of Drug Education to ensure school-based programs are evidence-based and effective in empowering students to make healthier and more informed choices around alcohol and other drugs.
- Prevention: a new Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Guide to support evidence-based decision making by government around initiatives to reduce risky alcohol and other drug use.
“We’re pleased to see that key commitments have been made, with a focus on prevention. Primary prevention is a critical part of a comprehensive and coordinated approach needed to reduce the impact of alcohol and other drugs, particularly amongst young people,” Ms Reid said.
“We look forward to supporting the government with the development of its alcohol and other drug strategy. It is crucial that findings from the NSW Drug Summit inform the development of the strategy, and that evidence-based, health focussed approaches are implemented to reduce alcohol and drug-related harms across our state,” Ms Reid concluded.
ENDS
For media enquiries please call the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s media team on 0430 948 380 or email [email protected]