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The case for developing more effective approaches to alcohol and drug problems

The case for developing more effective approaches to alcohol and drug problems. Probation and Community Corrections Officers Conference Dr Alex Wodak AM St. Vincent’s Hospital awodak@stvincents.com.au 27 October 2011. Topics:. Scale current problems Current policy settings

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The case for developing more effective approaches to alcohol and drug problems

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  1. The case for developing more effective approaches to alcohol and drug problems

    Probation and Community Corrections Officers Conference Dr Alex Wodak AM St. Vincent’s Hospital awodak@stvincents.com.au 27 October 2011
  2. Topics: Scale current problems Current policy settings Barriers to improvement Forces for change Overcoming barriers Conclusions
  3. Scale current problems: Almost every family experience Sense despair, hopelessness Often identified as major problem High health, social, economic costs Major impact alcohol, tobacco on ‘the gap’ Consumption alcohol rising ? Increasing binge drinking among young Prescription opioids
  4. Scale current problems: 37 murders Victoria linked meth Major official corruption
  5. Current policy settings: Tobacco Big recent drop smoking rates More action recently: price, packaging But now ‘islands’ 1960s prevalence Ban smoking prisons?
  6. Current policy settings: Alcohol Tax chaos Very liberal availability Restrictions undermined competition Advertising, marketing unregulated Drinks industry omnipotent, gets its way 100% Parties intimidated Community powerless
  7. Current policy settings: Prescription drugs Increasing consumption SR opioids 20 years Following US, Canadian trends US serious harms from 2000 Mainly chronic non-cancer pain Also benzodiazepines – insidious
  8. Current policy settings: Illicit drugs Framed as criminal justice problem Rhetoric, funding follows Ineffective, counterproductive, expensive Difficult identify benefits Works well politically
  9. Barriers to improvement: Tobacco Major progress over long time Shows progress is possible Tobacco industry tamed Decrease smoking disadvantaged
  10. Barriers to improvement: Alcohol Drinks industry too powerful Newspapers afraid Excessive concentration newspaper owner TV, radio lives off newspapers
  11. Barriers to improvement: Prescription drugs Messy – DoHA, states, territories Whose responsible? Multiple interventions needed
  12. Barriers to improvement: Illicits What works isn’t popular, what’s popular doesn’t work Fear vs evidence
  13. Forces for change: Alcohol Rising community concern alcohol NAAA Global action – WHO
  14. Forces for change: Illicit drugs Growing recognition failure War on Drugs Global Commission Drug Policy UN Commission HIV, Law Sovereign debt crisis USA, W Europe New models e.g. Portugal Crisis prisons USA Mexico Changing community attitudes, internet
  15. Overcoming barriers: Funding flowing to drug law reform New drug law reform organisations LEAP
  16. Conclusions: Exciting time Change starting drug law reform Pressure building effective response alcohol Also action SR opioids Benzodiazepines Harm reduction debate over Drug law reform debate following
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