Presentation Transcript

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