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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1366 ..

MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

highlight the need for this Assembly to provide an alternative that is free of moralism and preaching and recognises the realities.

Zero tolerance is not a policy I support; it does not work. Seizure of drug traffic has not stopped the use of drugs, and the threat of harsher penalties forces many people to hide their use from agencies rather than seek help and support. We need to bring drug use into the mainstream of health treatment. Keen observers of debates in the ACT will recognise that the government is already moving on this issue.

The Chief Minister recently linked the work of government with general practitioners dealing with opiate dependent patients. This program includes methadone provision, counselling, outreach and referral services, which all provide a constructive basis on which opiate dependants can relate with the broader community. This recognises that it should not just be families, church groups or overworked community groups who must carry the burden but society as a whole, with government as coordinator and facilitator.

We ignore the problem of drug and other substance abuse at our own risk, and we will jeopardise the lives of many Australians unless we act. The Assembly is aware of the Department of Health and Community Care's ACT secondary schools alcohol and drug survey. Its figures say a lot about the changing patterns of drug use and a decrease in the use of illicit drugs, particularly marijuana. But there are continuing patterns of abuse, which will lead to problems for users in later life.

The survey report notes that in 1999 one in four students used an inhalant-that is, a spray can, glue, paint or a thinner-which will have very serious and obvious health repercussions in later life. It is mainly a cheap alternative for younger students, who may not be aware of the long-term effects. This is clearly an unacceptable situation but, if anything, the issue of inhalant abuse demonstrates that education is not the only thing that is needed and some drug problems are not reducible to supply questions that can be dealt with realistically. We need to address the marginalisation these young people are experiencing and incorporate them into a constructive and healthy way of life.

An important first step in this process is for government to recognise drug use and abuse as primarily a health issue. I also support Ms Tucker's comments about using the knowledge and experience of the community service sector. This sector is knowledge rich. My only hesitation is that we ask too much of this group without being able to compensate them appropriately for their expertise.

We clearly need a holistic approach to the drug problem. Drug use cannot be separated from family concerns, poverty, social marginalisation or disempowerment. Everyone has a stake in this debate. Educators have an interest in ensuring that schools are vibrant places of learning where drug use is explained rationally and the problems of students are discussed and resolved and their individual stories and issues recognised. Families have an interest in ensuring that young people have the ability to integrate themselves into peer groups without undermining family relations. Drug support groups must be recognised in this debate, as they are the ones who confront the issue every day and recognise many of

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