February 2009

Monday, February 16, 2009

Dear reader,

After a short break we're back with new alcohol and other drug policy developments in New Zealand and overseas.

It's a big year for New Zealand with fundamental reviews of alcohol and drug policy and law being undertaken by the Law Commission, with each providing unique opportunities to chart a new and better direction to reduce social and health harms to individuals and communities.

E-substance will keep you updated on these developments, including ways you can get involved.

In this issue we introduce you to the first issue of Matters of Substance in 2009, profile the International Drug Policy Symposium which kicks off in Wellington this week, look at new drinking guidelines and their relevance to New Zealand, and advise you of a major nationwide stocktake of AOD demand reduction services currently underway.

Make sure you also check out our Video of the Month, important events, and jobs in the sector.

We welcome any feedback on this issue - email editor@drugfoundation.org.nz.

February 2009 Matters of Substance out now

In the cover story of February's Matters of Substance - in the mail this week - the New Zealand Drug Foundation puts its case for the reform of the Misuse of Drugs Act from a criminal justice-focused law to one that explicitly supports the health of people who use drugs and reduces drug harm across our communities.  To get a taste of our argument, read The Director's Cut published below and also our cover story - "Through the maze - Healthy drug law reform".

Also in the magazine:

  • The Drug Foundation turns 20 - learn of our controversial birth in 1989
  • Sentencing for drug crime - What would be a worse crime than dealing drugs? Not much, according to our criminal justice system
  • Mythbusters - The media's delight in describing ketamine as a horse tranquiliser is doing nothing to help convey a clear understanding of relative drug harm
  • Alternative development in the Golden Triangle - Opium cultivation is Burma, Laos and Thailand is reportedly in decline, but mismanaged bans have cost local farmers dearly
  • Youth07 - New Zealand young people are happier.  They're using less cannabis and saying no cigarettes, but not all the news is good.
  • And much more!

The Director's Cut

"This has never, ever worked, so let's keep on doing it". (Tony Trimingham, founder of Family Drug Support, Australia)

Why do we expect that one of the most complex social and health issues can be solved through tough action by Police, the courts and prisons? The faith many have in the criminal justice system to fix social ills is misplaced. Indeed, the system itself can be the cause of some of those ills.

Getting ‘tough on drugs' or fighting the ‘war on drugs' doesn't create communities free from drug harm.

We need to understand that the social and health harms from drugs can only be addressed through humane social and health policies and interventions. We do them a disservice when we demand Customs, cops and courts to fix the problems created by social exclusion, poverty, the human condition and even genetics. They are simply not equipped or qualified to do this - yet this is where we invest our energies and resources.

In Australia (we don't have New Zealand data, but confidently assume it will be comparable), 57 percent of expenditure on illicit drug policy goes to law enforcement, with only 23 percent to prevention efforts, 17 percent to treatment services and 3 percent to harm reduction initiatives. Acknowledging there is still debate about the best mix of investment, it's safe to say we have a long way to go before we even reach a balance of approaches.

Our cover story argues that New Zealand's obsolete drug law must be reformed so that it can complement the more balanced National Drug Policy. We argue that a health-based drug law would respect human rights, including the right of people to equal access to health services. It would reduce the barriers that currently stop people seeking help for drug-related problems and make it easier for them to access services such as harm reduction programmes or treatment.

Do not be mistaken. This is not a debate about ‘hard' versus ‘soft' drug law. Recent World Health Organisation research illustrated that "drug use is not simply related to drug policy, since countries with more stringent policies towards illegal drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries with more liberal policies."

Instead, we hope that, as New Zealand reviews its domestic drug law, and as the international community reviews global drug control, we need to be open to new approaches, informed by the best evidence, and be prepared to challenge previously held tenets.

David Cameron, UK's Conservative Party Leader, has lamented, "If one takes a slightly progressive - or, as I like to think of it, thoughtful - view [of drug control], one can sometimes be accused of being soft. I reject that utterly." So do we.

 

International Drug Policy Symposium: Through the maze - Healthy drug law

This week in Wellington, the Drug Foundation and the New Zealand Society on Alcohol and Drug Dependence host the International Drug Policy Symposium. Over two days, experts from New Zealand and overseas, including a director from the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, will gather to discuss drug policy and law issues, share their experiences, and make recommendations on what a healthy drug law could look like.

The range and importance of speakers at the symposium is unprecedented. Never before have so many drug and policy experts - both local and international - been gathered in one place in New Zealand. Speakers include government advisors, United Nations officials, academics and leaders of highly-effective non-government organisations working in the drugs and alcohol arena.

You can find out more from the Symposium website - www.healthydruglaw.org.nz.  There's also likely to be media coverage of the event over the next few days, not all of it will be accurate.

Teen drinking under the spotlight worldwide

In light of recent moves to curb teen drinking by the Australian and UK governments, New Zealand's Health Ministry is considering its own policy.  

The draft Australian National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines state that there is no safe level of consumption for drinkers under 18, and it is particularly dangerous for under-15s. UK's guidelines (opens PDF file) recommend avoiding alcohol drinks before the age of 15, and limiting them to no more than once a week in a supervised environment until the age of 17

Alex Wodak, director of alcohol and drug services at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, said he feared the new advice may not mean anything to the average drinker. "Unfortunately a lot of people will consider the guidelines too draconian and will just think they're not in sufficient contact with reality," Dr Wodak said. "I'm concerned that guidelines like this might come in for a lot of ridicule and contempt."

New Zealand's Ministry of Health official Dr Pat Tuohy told the NZ Herald the ministry was "looking with interest at this research" and "considering it alongside other international studies on the subject".

ALAC currently recommends that men should drink no more than six standard drinks and women no more than four standard drinks in a single session. ALAC's Chief Executive Gerard Vaughan said in an interview the discussion around the issue was timely. "But ultimately parents are responsible for bringing up their children. We need good information to make the decisions as a parent."

Carys Davis of UK's Alcohol Concern, which represents 500 drink treatment centres across the UK, said: "We agree that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest option and welcome the government's step in the right direction. Parents have for too long received mixed messages about whether they should give their children a little bit of alcohol or not."  But Davis doubted the guidelines would do much to tackle problems associated with underage drinking, such as violence and antisocial behaviour. "There are an awful lot more factors that influence young people's drinking than just what their parents say. The easy availability of alcohol at pocket-money prices is far more important."

US delegation in drug war of words in Vienna

Talks are said to be at breaking point in Vienna where representatives have gathered to hammer out a new UN declaration in time for a signing ceremony at a drugs summit in mid-March. Negotiations are ongoing but there's no sign of a breakthrough.

At the heart of the dispute is whether a commitment to "harm reduction" should be included in the UN declaration of intent, which is published every 10 years. In 1998 the declaration urged "a drug-free world - we can do it".

The EU, backed by ‘like-minded' countries say even with the best of intentions the world will not be drug-free in 10 years and some commitment to tackling HIV and addiction through effective harm reduction programmes, such as needle exchanges, should be included in the global statement.  Opponents (US, Russia and Japan) argue including "harm reduction" sends the wrong message.

Delegates at the talks acknowledge that no consensus has been reached, but "are hopeful that a satisfactory conclusion can be achieved," said the UK Home Office.

Drug policy experts expressed concern at the stalemate: "It is troubling that, despite clear global evidence of the effectiveness of harm reduction in reducing HIV and its acceptance in every other UN body, that the US is still resisting its inclusion," said Mike Trace, chair of the International Drug Policy Consortium. "We are sure the incoming [Obama] administration will take a different view but they will have to move fast or this will be the position for the next 10 years."

Stocktake of drug demand-reduction services

The Ministry of Health is currently planning the development and implementation of a programme which aims to reduce the demand for and harms from illegal drugs. As part of the scoping work associated with the development of the programme, the Ministry has recently contracted Allen and Clarke Policy and Regulatory Specialists Limited (Allen & Clarke) to undertake a stocktake of drug demand reduction services and resources funded in New Zealand.

The programme will promote sources of information and support available to individuals, families and communities concerned about their own or another's drug use.  It will encourage people to access objective information about drugs and their potential harms and guide them to local services providing support and treatment.  The programme will most likely have a community focus, attempting to bolster resilience and healthy lifestyles.

The expectation is that when the programme is implemented, this may very well spark demand for information, support and treatment services. The Ministry therefore wishes to determine what services and resources are available and where, before the programme is launched.

There have been some targeted stocktakes undertaken in recent years. The intent is to draw those together, update where appropriate, and to also undertake a broad assessment of how services and resources align with the Ministry's drug demand reduction programme. The stocktake may also identify where there are gaps in service provision.

Allen & Clarke is likely to contact many organisations in the sector for updated information on services and resources.  They intend to make this as easy as possible for people to contribute and will be building on past work and not recreating what's already been done. 

In the first instance Allen & Clarke is currently collecting information about, and copies of, relevant resources (e.g. pamphlets, CDs, posters).  They have recently written to a number of organisations nationwide, however, if your organisation has not heard from them and does produce relevant resources (resources that cover illicit drugs in whole or in part), and then they would be very grateful if you would please contact Cat Barnes on cbarnes@allenandclarke.co.nz or (04) 890 7306.

Allen & Clarke is also currently undertaking a desk-based review of available information on drug treatment services.  If you provide services with a focus that includes illicit drug use and harms, you may be contacted and asked to provide Allen & Clarke with more information about your service (e.g. target population(s), types of service, geographical coverage, approach to service delivery).  They will be using the ADANZ directory and Ministry-held information as a starting point for their stocktake so again, will be making every effort to keep requests of busy providers to a minimum.

If you should be aware of any service providers in your area that are not funded through Vote Health and/or that may not be well known, they would be very appreciative of receiving information from you about them. 

If you should have any queries regarding the stocktake, please contact Carla Wilson (cwilson@allenandclarke.co.nz) or Matthew Allen (mallen@allenandclarke.co.nz).

Video(s) of the month
Misuse of Drugs Act Review - International Drug Policy Symposium - The Prohibition Paradox

This year, e-Substance will alternate between website reviews and online video reviews.  This month we profile 3 newly published Drug Foundation "Drug Tube" videos:

These videos and more can be viewed on our YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/nzdrugfoundation.

Events

  • Justice Health in Australia Conference, Melbourne, 6-7 April
  • Central Region Addiction Forum, Palmerston North, 15-16 April
  • ALAC's Working Together Conference, Wellington, 14-15 May

For details on these and other events, and to submit your event, visit www.drugfoundation.org.nz/events.

Job Vacancies

  • Lead Clinician, CADS, Auckland
  • Primary Mental Health Worker, Otago Southern Region PHO
  • Mental Health Professional, Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service's Prison Team

For these and other vacancies, and to submit your vacancy, visit www.drugfoundation.org.nz/jobs.

 

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