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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2758 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

The goals of the ACT drug strategy 1995-97 are to minimise the harm associated with drug use; reduce the uptake of tobacco and illicit drugs; identify and reduce the incidence of drug-related criminal activity and violence; increase public knowledge and skills in relation to all drug use and its effects on the individual and community, safer use of alcohol and other drugs, and availability of resources and services that assist the reduction and minimisation of harm; enhance drug education programs in schools and colleges, and for young people who have left education; and provide a range of services, which are based on best practice, that aim to reduce drug-related harm, ensuring accessibility and appropriateness of service delivery to the key population groups identified in the national drug strategy.

Mr Speaker, I would like to speak about the achievements of the ACT drug strategy 1995-97. During the course of the ACT drug strategy 1995-97 there have been a significant number of achievements, including drop-in, support, referral and information to a wide range of young people; alcohol and other drug education training programs for Australian Federal Police involved in community drug education; formation of the Community Safety Committee, which has, amongst other things, addressed problems of drug use and violence; and mid-term stakeholder consultations. With regard to alcohol, there has been alcohol and drug education and support for the building trades group of unions in the workplace and apprenticeship training - a particularly good program; safe drinking practices education through schools, police, licensed clubs and shopping centres; the youth alcohol action plan; and police action on alcohol- and violence-related offences.

With regard to illicit drugs, there has been the establishment of the Heroin Pilot Task Force, the completion of its public consultation and the tabling of the subsequent report in the ACT Legislative Assembly; the provision of needles to heroin-dependent people; the expansion of availability of methadone through the introduction of the community methadone program; continuation of the public methadone program as a specialised clinic and single point of entry for methadone treatment; the development of alternative approaches to the treatment of heroin-dependent people; information and services to young people who may be considering experimenting with illicit drugs; and police supply control measures. With regard to pharmaceutical and other drugs, there have been programs for people withdrawing from benzodiazepines, the appointment of a benzodiazepines project officer, and a symposium on steroid use.

The ACT is a national leader in tobacco control, having been awarded first prize for the last two years by the Australian Medical Association for action in this area. Our major initiatives include being the first State or Territory to introduce legislation for the current tough health warnings, which was subsequently superseded by Commonwealth Government action to ensure national uniformity; the implementation of smoke-free enclosed public places legislation in a staged approach which has given both business and people in the community who smoke an opportunity to adjust to the changing culture here within the ACT; and action to monitor and take action on illegal tobacco sales to minors. The ACT Government is committed to strengthening controls on tobacco promotion and sales to children. Legislative proposals to further these aims will, hopefully, Mr Speaker, be tabled later this year.

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