Our Statement on the 2024 NSW Drug Summit
As leading researchers in co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney supports the NSW Government bringing together stakeholders to ensure innovative, effective and evidence-based actions are put in place to support NSW in reducing the harms associated with alcohol and other drug (AOD) use.
Health, wellbeing and the minimisation of harms caused by substances should be the priority of the NSW Drug Summit. Research shows that substance use does not just affect the person taking the drug – it also affects those around them, including their loved ones and the broader community. Measures are needed to improve health and wellbeing across the NSW community.
Young people’s voices are particularly relevant, as research shows that substance use and mental health disorders account for six of the ten leading causes of disease burden in those aged 10-24. We know that prevention (i.e., intervening before these disorders develop) is essential, and that outcomes are better when young people are engaged in priority setting, intervention co-design and evaluation.
Substance use patterns are constantly changing. For example, we are seeing an explosion of youth vaping, with the risk that this moves a new generation towards tobacco and nicotine products. Concerningly, vapes are now being used as unintended illicit substance delivery systems. Methamphetamine also continues to be the number one drug of concern to the Australian community, yet there have been few outcomes from the NSW Special Commission on ‘Ice’.
Also, recent reports on the newly implemented NSW Early Drug Diversion program suggest that the program may not be broadly and consistently directing people away from criminal charges for small amounts of personal drug possession.
This all highlights that we need action through evidence-based and innovative solutions.
To move towards a healthier tomorrow for everyone, the Matilda Centre recommends the NSW Drug Summit:
Address AOD use as both a health and social issue, placing priority on health-focused and community-led responses.
Ensure stakeholders such as people with lived experience, young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people identifying as LGBTIQ+ and people living in regional and remote communities are heard.
Engage media outlets and the AOD workforce to use evidence-based, non-stigmatising language when communicating about AOD use.
Utilise school-based education and skills-based programs to implement effective AOD education and prevention approaches that will have impact throughout the lifespan and across communities.
Promotion of online, evidence-based resources to a wider audience in NSW to overcome geographic, structural and attitudinal barriers to accessing evidence-based information, and support development of resources where there are knowledge gaps.
Prioritise support and development of evidence-based support services focused on resilience and wellbeing for family and friends of a loved one using substances.
Align AOD training across states towards evidence-based best practice, and upscale training programs for AOD workers into a national Minimum Qualifications Framework.
Our evidence behind these recommendations can be found on our full position statement (doc, 144KB).
Related articles
PREMISE Lived Experience Partnership Grants Awarded