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Victorian Government approach
Page contents: Overview | Related information
Overview
Australia has earned a high international reputation for its progressive, balanced and comprehensive approach to dealing with problems posed by the use and misuse of drugs in the community. The National Drug Strategic Framework focuses on the following key elements:
- Harm minimisation
An approach that aims to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of misuse of alcohol and other drugs, by minimising or limiting the harms and hazards of drug use for both the community and the individual, without necessarily eliminating use.
- Drug control
A broad spectrum of control measures is required, ranging from legislative provisions to controls on the access, availability and use of drugs for certain groups or in certain situations.
- Intersectoral approach
Alcohol and drug problems need to be addressed in an integrated manner across a broad range of sectors.
- International cooperation
Drug abuse is an international concern. Treaties, conventions and global action plans have been formulated to address drug-related issues in a concerted and cooperative manner. Australia is an active participant.
- Evaluation and accountability
A commitment to the application of needs-based planning and evaluation activities to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of strategies to minimise drug-related harm.
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Following the reorganisation and strengthening of the Victorian Drug Treatment system that saw the adoption of a five-year Drug Strategic Plan in 1993, and the development in March 1997, of Victoria's Drug Treatment Services: the Framework for Service Delivery. The Government in 1999 introduced A New Approach; Labor's Plan to Tackle the Drugs Crisis. This takes a holistic approach across Government Departments to address the complexity of the drugs problem on a number of levels. The strategy has four key components:
- Preventing drug abuse
A student support program will be implemented in schools to keep young people in full time study and give them the individual attention they need to prevent them engaging in risky behaviours such as drug abuse. A Youth Jobs Package will also be introduced to ensure that young people are given the opportunity to make a successful transition from school to vocational training or work.
- Saving lives
Immediate action will be taken to prevent the tragic deaths occurring amongst young people, particularly from heroin overdose. The focus will be on drug safety education, mobile overdose response services, supervised injecting facilities and the development of alternatives to methadone.
- Getting lives back on track
A comprehensive strategy will be developed to put people on course for treatment and rehabilitation so that they can rejoin society and lead productive lives. A framework will be developed within the criminal justice system focussing on rehabilitation and treatment of drug users. Young people will be linked back into education, training and employment through a structured range of support programs.
- Effectively policing the drugs trade
Additional law enforcement resources will be directed to identifying, prosecuting and punishing the commercial traffickers and importers of drugs. The Government adopts a harm minimisation approach to users and supports the Victoria Police cautioning programs.
Related information
Victoria's alcohol & drug treatment services - Framework for service delivery
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