With the ACT Election four months away, Canberra Daily is asking organisations around Canberra for their perspectives on key issues, the ACT Government’s accomplishments, and what an incoming government should focus on.
Anita Mills is the CEO of the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA), the peak body for the alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector in the ACT. Its vision is a healthy, well and safe ACT community with the lowest possible levels of alcohol, tobacco and other drug related harms. It leads and influences positive outcomes in policy, practice and research on the social determinants of harmful drug use, and on societal responses to drug use and to people who use drugs.
What do you regard as the ACT Government’s successes in the current term?
ATODA welcomes the positive steps taken to reduce the harms caused by drugs in this term of ACT government.
Decriminalising personal possession of small quantities of illicit drugs enables people to consider their drug taking with a health lens, rather than a criminal one. This significant reform in the ACT encourages help-seeking behaviour, and is a concrete step towards reducing the stigma associated with drug use.
ATODA also notes the great work the ACT’s drug checking facility – CanTEST – has done to educate and inform people around the risks associated with specific drugs. ATODA is a strong advocate for the continued resourcing of CanTEST.
What do you see as the major issues that an incoming government will have to deal with?
ATODA encourages an incoming government to prioritise meaningful policy around alcohol harm reduction. Our advice includes a stronger a focus on evidence-based interventions to reduce risky drinking levels; tightening regulations around online sales and delivery of alcohol in the ACT; and a commitment to mitigate the breadth of targeted, harmful digital alcohol marketing.
Alcohol is the predominant drug of concern identified by over 40 percent of people accessing specialist alcohol and drug treatment services in the ACT. Further alcohol harm reduction measures should be a government priority. (See also “Reducing Alcohol-Related Harms in the ACT”, policy position statement published in May.)
ATODA also asks that an incoming government continues to prioritise investment and support in tobacco cessation. Although tobacco use rates in the ACT are currently at less than 5 percent, there are still specific sub-populations where tobacco use remains high. These population groups require targeted, affordable and appropriate supports to reduce tobacco use.
Currently in the ACT, the penalty for the personal possession of nicotine or e-liquid without a prescription can attract a fine of up to $32,000 fine or a maximum two-year imprisonment term. ATODA understands that these penalties are not currently being enforced in the ACT, however we encourage a consistent harm reduction approach across all alcohol, tobacco and other drug related policy. Personal use of any drug should not be a criminal offence.
What should the government’s priorities be? What policy initiatives or reforms might be useful to meet the challenges ahead?
ATODA encourages the ACT government to continue to balance a harm reduction policy approach to alcohol and other drugs with sustainable resourcing for the ACT alcohol, tobacco and other drug treatment sector. It is important that our sector is structured and resourced to provide care that matches the diverse health needs of the community, and that we have a thriving workforce and well-supported sector to support this.
