E-Substance September 2008

9 September 2008

Welcome

Dear reader,

Welcome to the September issue of e-Substance.

This month we focus on the long awaited replacement to the National Alcohol Strategy - Government agencies have outlined their planned actions on alcohol and seek your feedback on these.

We also give notice of the Drug Foundation's 2008 Annual General Meeting (chocolate cake will be served!) and related Board of Trustees' election. Plus we have a job going for a skilled administrator.

In the news: the drinking age debate heats up in the US with university presidents campaigning for a new debate on the current 21-year-old limit; meanwhile France considers whether to raise theirs to 18. 

As usual, we bring you the website of the month, important events and situations vacant.

We hope you will find these stories stimulating. Please send us your feedback (editor@drugfoundation.org.nz).

Thank you for your continued interest in our work!

 

Government agencies' new alcohol action plan

Five years since the National Alcohol Strategy has expired, government agencies tasked with reducing alcohol and other drug related harm have presented their draft action plan on alcohol. 

The Interagency Committee on Drugs' (IACD) draft Alcohol Action Plan "presents a proposed plan of action to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harm in New Zealand.  It articulates a strategic direction to draw together existing plans, policies, activities and interventions across many different settings in New Zealand, and to inform future work.  Most importantly, it outlines the actions proposed to reduce alcohol-related harm and identifies who is responsible for leading and contributing to their implementation."

While it still surprises us the previous national strategy was allowed to remain expired for so long, the new draft plan does provide some clarity about the key pieces of work leading agencies, such as Health, Police, ALAC and ACC, have planned for the next 4-5 years. These agencies are seeking feedback on their proposals, specifically:

  • where efforts should be focused in the next five years to make the biggest difference in reducing alcohol-related harm
  • whether the actions currently identified should have the highest priority
  • what gaps you see in what is currently proposed and your ideas for addressing these gaps.

Get active - Submissions and Drug Foundation forum

It's important that those interested in alcohol policy and plans provide feedback on this draft action plan.  Details for making submissions, which are due by 7 November 2008, are outlined on the National Drug Policy website.

To support the consultation process, the Drug Foundation is hosting an open forum for any interested group or individual to meet and discuss the action plan with IACD agencies.  Our forum will be held on Wednesday 8 October, 10.00am-midday at St Johns in the City Church, Wellington (a light lunch will be provided).  For more information and to register for this forum please contact Catherine Milburn (04 802 6367, catherine.milburn@drugfoundation.org.nz).

Alcohol action plan in the news

Media commentary on the draft plan has been favourable, and much of it focussed on the draft plan to examine whether the drink-drive level (BAC) should be lowered for all drivers.

In an editorial, the Nelson Mail called New Zealand's love affair with alcohol perhaps the nation's most enduring intimate relationship, saying "There are clear studies to show that a [lower blood-alcohol limit] would undoubtedly help to lower the road toll and it is to be hoped that the Government will have the stomach to go through with it. However, the greater benefit of the plan is its recognition of the breadth and depth of New Zealand's alcohol problems and the need for a comprehensive approach to deal with them.

Its neighbours at the Marlborough Express simply said "Experts say lowering the blood-alcohol limits will save lives. Let's do it." Likewise the Ashburton Guardian who said "the decision is forward-thinking and could reap huge rewards for society and save innocent lives."

On their conscience

Whatever government agencies conclude is the best BAC level, the final outcome will rest on how parliamentarians vote on any alcohol bill.  And remember, most parties usually treat alcohol laws as matters of their individual MP's conscience, as nicely described in this article by ALAC.

The traditional conscience vote on alcohol has been called into question by former prime minister and current President of the Law Commission, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who is heading the commission's review of liquor law and policy.

Sir Geoffrey is urging a more rational approach to voting on alcohol from politicians, saying it should be a party vote. The conscience voting tradition is rooted in the debate around abolition which was so divisive political parties found it hard to agree a position within their own ranks. But Palmer said times had changed and the issue should be reconsidered. "It would certainly assist in securing a coherent, consistent and rational framework for dealing with a substance that imposes significant social costs on New Zealand," he said.

Update on the Hawkins Bill

The Social Select Committee is currently hearing submissions on the Sale of Liquor (Objections to Applications) Amendment Bill - Hon George Hawkins' members bill.

The committee won't have enough time to complete their work before this 48th Parliament ends, but they have advised their work will be merged into the larger Government-sponsored Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill.

In our submission on the Hawkins Bill we supported the intent of the bill to give communities a greater say in local liquor issues and in its recognition of the social impacts of alcohol, but we felt the bill didn't offer the most effective ways to achieve its intent.  Like many, we're hoping the Government bill will provide a better way to address many local alcohol concerns.

 

Matters of Substance

By now you will have read your latest copy of Matters of Substance.  Our cover story showed that for many teenagers, alcohol and other drugs are part of everyday life, but we asked is kicking drug taking kids out of school the best solution we've got?  Gael Woods, author of the cover story and Radio NZ's education correspondent, has also produced this Insight documentary, which you can listen to here (Opens in your media player).

Also from our August issue, we've published some articles online which you can read and make comment on, including The Directors Cut, our guest editorial on the global state of harm reduction, the opinion piece on alcohol in supermarkets and our Let's Talk About Pot article on drug driving.

We also updated readers on the outcome of the Beyond 2008 forum, held in Vienna in July.  The Australian National Council on Drugs, who co-led the Australasian delegation with the NZ Drug Foundation, has written a very good editorial outlining the importance of the international drug control system review...

Battle against drugs needs realistic approach
John Herron, chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs

  • In 1998, the United Nations held a general assembly special session on drugs and set 2008 as the target date to eliminate, or significantly reduce, the world's drug production and use. Well, here we are in 2008, and while we've certainly come a long way, drugs still remain a worldwide problem.

    The elimination of drugs is an ideal many would like to see achieved, but we need to approach drug issues in a realistic and pragmatic manner. Fortunately, the next UN initiative sees the potential to formulate realistic goals and some positive changes for the future, including to the drug control conventions which govern global drug control, and to which many countries (including Australia) are signatories.

    Why do we need to make changes to our global drug control efforts? To start with, the three drug control conventions currently have a heavy law enforcement focus. While this is a key aspect of any comprehensive drug control effort, law enforcement is just one of many areas that need to be engaged when tackling drug problems.

    Continue reading John's full editorial here.

Drug Foundation News

Notice of the Drug Foundation's Annual General Meeting

The Drug Foundation hosts its Annual General Meeting on Monday 17 November (3.30-5.30pm, Museum Hotel, Wellington).

This is an excellent opportunity for our members and friends to celebrate the year, hear from a great guest speaker and eat good food.  The AGM will also include a vote for a new member representative to the Board of Trustees (see below).

Our guest this year is John Rogerson, Chief Executive of the Australian Drug Foundation. John will reflect on the extensive alcohol policy debates currently underway in Australia, including their work in exposing industry tactics, and the opportunities the new Labor government has presented.

It's our pleasure to invite you all to our meeting.  Please RSVP to admin@drugfoundation.org.nz or phone 04 801 6303.

Become a Trustee of the Drug Foundation

It's been a great year for the Drug Foundation.

We started the year with the regional Beyond 2008 consultation and have maintained strong links with our international colleagues, while at the same time strengthening our support to members and focussing on national alcohol and drug policy debates.

Our Board of Trustees sets the direction of the Drug Foundation.  They have recently agreed some critical short term priorities for the organisation, including a focus on the 2 alcohol and drug law reviews.

There is one vacancy on the Board this year which will be filled by an election at the AGM.  This is a great opportunity for someone to join our professional, energetic and action-focused governance team.

Organisational members can nominate someone for election.

To nominate someone, please send the name of the nominating organisational member, the name of the nominee and a statement (no longer than 300 words) outlining their suitability and reasons for seeking election to admin@drugfoundation.org.nz or PO Box 3082, Wellington.

Nominations close at 5pm, Thursday 23 October 2008.

Information about candidates and voting forms will be sent to all members in October.

Work for us - Administrator

The Drug Foundation is changing: we're getting bigger and doing more things. We need a motivated administrator to support these changes. 

You will have experience in a similar role, be a highly motivated and organised person, and have the initiative to make our office run more effectively.  You will be responsible for maintaining office administration systems and supporting all areas of our work, including our finance and information systems, and event management.

This is a full time position based in Wellington.  As part of our commitment to providing a flexible and balanced work environment, we will also consider proposals for part-time hours.

Applicants for this position can obtain an information pack from us, or download it from this website.  Enquiries to Lisa Weakley, phone 04 801 6303 or email admin@drugfoundation.org.nz. Applications close Monday 15 September.

 

News

Drinking age debate revived

In the US, the debate over legal drinking age has been livened since the launch of the Amethyst Initiative in July. The group of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the US, who signed a public statement that the 21 year-old drinking age is not working, and, specifically, that it has created a culture of dangerous binge drinking on their campuses. "We want to encourage an honest and constructive dialogue among educators, lawmakers, parents and students," Duke President Richard H. Brodhead said.

There are, of course, many critics of the campaign. Safety advocates say the legal drinking age of 21 saves about 900 lives every year. Laura Dean-Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said people look to college presidents "for their leadership role on their campuses. It just seems like they didn't do enough homework to look at the science on this."

You can read further coverage of the US debate:

Meanwhile, France is considering a proposal which would see their age raised to 18. Minister of Health Roselyne Bachelot says the legislation was likely to be introduced next year. It marks a shift in official thinking over the hallowed French tradition of initiating young people in drinking rituals, notably involving wine. The "French consensus" has been that the first sips should be taken in early adolescence - or before - under parental supervision in the belief this fosters a mature, sensible approach to alcohol far removed from Anglo-Saxon.

Studies by French officials showed that those who started drinking under the age of 18 were likely to consume more in later life than those who started afterwards. Research has debunked the idea that the French were immune to le binge-drinking. The percentage of under-18s saying they got drunk regularly rose from 19 to 26 per cent between 2003 and 2006, for instance. According to the Health Ministry, the number of people under 24 treated in hospital in connection with alcohol increased by 50 per cent between 2004 and 2007. The debate has been given added urgency by the death from alcohol poisoning last month of an 18-year-old student in central France who had been out to celebrate passing his end of school exams. In another well-publicised case, a father from Brittany sued the supermarket that had sold three bottles of spirits to his 16-year-old daughter, who was taken to hospital after losing consciousness.

Legalisation would reduce harm

The UK drug policy debate has been stoked by a former director of the Cabinet Office's anti-drug unit suggesting that legalising drugs is a better alternative to the current prohibition policy.

"During my time in the unit, as I saw more and more evidence of what works.  It became apparent to me that ... enforcement and supply-side interventions were largely pointless. They have no significant, lasting impact on the availability, affordability or use of drugs."

Critchley also said that his views were shared by the "overwhelming majority" of professionals in the field, including police officers, health workers and members of the government. "Yet publicly, all those intelligent, knowledgeable people were forced to repeat the nonsensical mantra that the government would be 'tough on drugs', even though they all knew the government's policy was actually causing harm," he said.

Prohibition proponents were quick to respond to Critchley. Ian Oliver, former chief constable of Grampian police and author of Drug Affliction, responded in The Guardian, calling Critchley's assertions "stunningly inaccurate".

"Does Critchley want crack to be legally available? Or if not all drugs, then which should be available, and to whom? Could anyone acquire them? And if not, does Critchley not think there would be a thriving black market to undercut prices and avoid taxes?" Dr Oliver asked.

Former chief then went on to say that the drug control was working. "We do not know how much worse the problem would have become without it. The compassionate approach to drugs is to do everything to reduce addiction, not to make it easier. Imagine the consequences of widespread bingeing on drugs."

However, Critchley's views were endorsed by the Transform Drug Policy Foundation.  "Julian Critchley is one of the brave few to tell the truth about the failure of prohibition and the need to replace it with a system of regulation," said Danny Kushlick, Transform's Head of Policy and Communications. "It is truly shameful that there are so many more who know that the war on drugs is overwhelmingly counterproductive, and yet continue to remain silent, tacitly endorsing a policy that they know creates misery, degradation and death for millions across the globe."

 

Website of the month

Positive Stories

At the Cutting Edge conference last week, the National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT) released its position statement on the efficacy of treatment.  NCAT's data makes for comforting reading; and behind those numbers are real stories of real people. To help tell those stories, the Australian National Council on Drugs has launched Positive Stories, a website that tells of the impact of treatment in the community and the journey of those who are involved in the process. The stories are told by people who have successfully dealt with their drug use issues or those that are in the process of working towards this goal, addiction treatment workers who can provide a first hand account about the role of treatment and the benefits it can offer, and family members who have supported or are currently supporting a family member through the treatment process.  Read their stories or tell you own at www.positivestories.org.au

Events

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

Vacancies

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