Stage 1 report

Page content: Overview | Executive summary & recommendations | Final report

Overview

The Drug Policy Expert Committee has engaged in wide community consultation since its appointment in November 1999. It has received 132 written submissions, met with many interest groups from the community generally, and consulted with the Councils and community groups in the five municipalities designated by government as having major problems with open street trafficking and drug use. There have also been consultations with overseas authorities where cities have decided to use injecting facilities as a part of their strategy to handle growing problems with illicit drugs. In addition, a visit to Sweden was undertaken to review Swedish Drug Policy and its outcomes.

The level of concern in the Victorian community about the fast growing use of illicit drugs, particularly heroin, is eminently justified, and of the consequences it has for crime and disturbance of public order, including littering of needles and syringes, and the rising death toll from drug overdose.

There are strong views in the community about drug policy. This is particularly so, both for and against, for the proposed trial of injecting facilities. The Committee's starting point, however, is that it identifies with the major themes of Government policy, articulated as prevention, saving lives, expanding treatment and ensuring effective law enforcement. The Committee's report sets out the evidence considered, and the conclusions reached.

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DPEC stage 1 report - Overview (857kb, pdf)

Executive summary & recommendations

Despite considerable and productive efforts by our law enforcement and health services in recent years, the problems caused by illicit drugs continue to grow in Australia, as they do internationally. Urgent action is required.

The Government's drug policy articulates the major themes of prevention, saving lives, expanding treatment, and effective law enforcement. In November 1999, the Government established the Drug Policy Expert Committee to provide advice on the implementation of its drug policy. The Committee supports the major themes outlined in the Government's drug policy and notes the actions taken by the Government directly through the drug policy and by making available additional resources for police and prevention.

The report provides recommendations to Government, the Committee's findings in relation to local drug strategies, and the implementation of a multi-site injecting facilities trial. Consistent with the Committee's terms of reference, later reports will deal with other critical elements of the Government's policy.

The report has been prepared after broad consultation in the five areas
most affected by street drug use, in addition to key interest groups such as drug users, service providers, and cultural and linguistically diverse communities. In addition, the Committee received and considered over 130 written submissions. A Victoria Police reference group has also assisted the Committee. The input from all of these sources has been welcomed by the Committee and has informed the preparation of the report.

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DPEC stage 1 report - Executive summary & recommendations (1mb, pdf)

Final report

Despite considerable and productive efforts by our law enforcement and health services in recent years, the problems caused by illicit drugs continue to grow in Australia, as they do internationally. Urgent action is required.

The Government's drug policy articulates the major themes of prevention, saving lives, expanding treatment, and effective law enforcement. In November 1999, the Government established the Drug Policy Expert Committee (the Committee) to provide advice on the implementation of its drug policy. The Committee supports the major themes outlined in the Government's drug policy and notes the actions taken by the Government directly through the drug policy and by making available additional resources for police and prevention.

The report provides recommendations to Government and the Committee's findings in relation to local drug strategies, and the implementation of a multi-site injecting facilities trial. Consistent with the Committee's terms of reference, later reports will deal with other critical elements of the Government's policy.

The report has been prepared after broad consultation in the five areas most affected by street drug use, in addition to key interest groups such as drug users, service providers, and cultural and linguistically diverse communities. In addition, the Committee received and considered over 130 written submissions. A Victoria Police reference group has also assisted the Committee. The input from all of these sources has been welcomed by the Committee and has informed the preparation of the report.

Download document

DPEC stage 1 report - Final report (1.3mb, pdf)

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