Sydney: Local Agencies Consultation Forum report

Sydney: Local Agencies Consultation Forum report

Background

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) has determined it will hold a drug and alcohol agency forum in conjunction with its meetings in each State and Territory. These forums form part of the Council’s strategy to fulfil its role of ensuring the views of non-government, community-based organisations and associated services working with drug and alcohol issues, are considered as part of drug policy advice.

This report aims to provide a brief description of each of the issues raised by forum participants. This report is available on the ANCD Internet Site to enable forum participants and interested others to access issues discussed at the forums. The ANCD also provides a copy of this report to the Premier or Chief Minister, as well as the responsible Minister, in each jurisdiction to ensure the Government is aware of the issues raised.

It should also be noted that all the issues raised at the forums are not necessarily areas that the Council agrees with or are able to address. They do however provide an important touchstone on community concerns and perceptions for Council members. In addition, the ANCD believes that it has an obligation to participants to report the issues and concerns raised in an unfettered manner.

Sydney Local Agency Forum

Approximately 80 people from the Sydney and surrounds drug and alcohol field, including non-government sector, police and government representatives, attended a forum hosted by the Council at the Masonic Centre on Thursday, 14 March 2002.

Major Watters, ANCD Chair gave a brief introduction to the forum and then introduced Mr Vumbaca. Mr Vumbaca gave a presentation outlining the role of the Council, some of its main areas of activity and its position within the National Drug Advisory Framework.

In addition, Mr Vumbaca explained that the ANCD sought to explore three broad themes for the forum under the title “National Drug Strategy: Where to From Here?”, in recognition of the fact that the National Drug Strategy 1998-2002 is coming to an end, and the ANCD’s view that the review process ought to include the views of the sector.

Mr Vumbaca then opened the floor to comments / questions and facilitated discussion.

The following issues and themes were raised and discussed during the forum:

‘Tough on Drugs’ Funding
Information was requested on the timing (i.e. commencement of funding and the when the four year timeframe is due to conclude) of the funds announced as part of the ‘Tough on Drugs’ strategy. In addition, which areas have received funding and has the money been allocated.
ANCD Consideration of a Heroin Trial
Will the ANCD consider the outcomes of the Dutch Heroin Trial that were released recently?
Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC)
Members of the ANCD were asked their views on the MSIC in Sydney. Members responded that a range of views exist on this issue however the ANCD’s position (as stated in Media Releases) is that the trial should be able to run unimpeded and the evaluation results examined.
Investigation of Supply, Demand and Harm Reduction Measures on a Cost Effectiveness Basis
Evaluation of current supply, demand and harm reduction measures should be undertaken as to their cost-effectiveness and those policies which are not shown to be cost-effective should be discontinued. This process would also enable better comparisons to be made within and between different programs.
Transparency of Process
This comment is linked to the point above whereby decisions to fund programs are not currently transparent and that if decisions were subject to across the board cost-efficiency audits, the process would be clearer and less open to ideological debate. A reliance on cost efficiency as the main basis for funding would also encourage greater public support for drug programs (as it would demonstrate the return on investment).
Police Responsibilities and Supply Reduction
Concern was expressed about the conflict of interest for police in the contradictory community expectations set up by harm minimisation and upholding the letter of the law. In particular, it was viewed that police have a responsibility to seize illegal drugs and at times where police reasonably suspect a person has illegal drugs on their person and for harm minimisation reasons does not act on this suspicion; police are placed in a situation of conflict. The point was argued that policies are not good policies if they require laws to be broken to be upheld.
Supply and Demand Reduction Activities and Licit Drugs
Concern was expressed that supply and demand reduction activities associated with illicit drugs are the focus, when the same efforts to reduce supply and demand of licit drugs is just as important. The point was extended to the perception that supply control in relation to cannabis is seen as less of an issue.
Tobacco and the Focus of National Drug Strategy
Given that tobacco is associated with 80% of drug related deaths in Australia, this substance should be the unchallenged focus of the nation’s drug policies.
Ban on Smoking in Poker Machine Rooms
In accordance with the previous point, both tobacco and gambling are massive problems in Australia and
Harm Reduction as part of the National Strategy
Confirmation was sought from the ANCD that the Council is not providing advice to drop harm reduction as the national policy.
Alcohol Industry Messages
A concern was expressed about the messages being promoted by the alcohol industry that alcohol consumption is ‘healthy’. The Government needs to exercise more control over messages of this nature to ensure drinking is not encouraged.
Focus on Damage Caused per-drug-unit
Encouragement was given to a policy based on a harm-per-unit-drug-consumption basis. This would also clarify for the public the actual levels of harm produced by particular drugs per dose.
Continuity of Funding, Longer Term Support for Community Sector & ‘Economistic’ and Legalistic Funding Agreements
The currently ‘economistic’ and legalistic way contracts and funding are provided to the community based drug and alcohol sector is problematic. The model is difficult to manage for NGO’s – including the uncertainty of continuity of funding, retention of staff, infrastructure issues, etc. Also, outcomes are sometimes difficult to demonstrate and in particular, value for money services are not always what is cheapest.

The non-government sector needs a stronger level of support in a less uncertain (re: continuation of funds) way.
Funding of the Customs Service
A view was put forward that the customs service is receiving increased funding under tough on drugs however there are management and structural problems with customs which mean the funds may not be used most efficiently.
More Focus on Demand as the Means to Influence Supply
Whilst this item was raised in the context of support for supply reduction, the point was raised that whilst there is a demand for drugs, pressure exists to supply the drugs. The very strong point was raised that we need to encourage more people into treatment to reduce demand, which is a very strong means by which to influence supply.

Also, using heart disease as a public health model whereby a number of things are being influenced as a means to reduce the incidence (e.g. diet, exercise, other prevention methods), a more health promotion orientation to drug use is required in order to build resilience and eventually reducing the demand.
Drug Education and Age at which it Begins
More emphasis is recommended on school drug education, including education of children from a younger age than is currently the case. Also, parents need information which is accessible to them – along the lines of the letterbox drop.
Jail to Treatment, Recidivism and Identification Issues
There is a difficulty getting people who are released out of prison into a treatment agency of some kind. Often, there are no places available, assessments are difficult to arrange at short notice and where admission might be possible, it is very difficult to arrange 100 points of identification for both welfare payments as well as treatment agency requirements.

Also, when people can’t get into treatment, it increases the chances of people re-offending as the peer group and family are significant factors in recidivism.
Coalition of Small Organisations
The forum participants were informed of a coalition of small organisations under the banner of Voice for SONG (small organisations, non-government).
Training – Under Funded and Under Considered
The strong sentiment that AOD workers are not well paid and have little support in the way of training was conveyed. The description continued to include a ‘revolving door’ client group (high rates of relapse) and a highly stressful work environment. These issues were raised in the forum in making the point that if better qualified staff were attracted, and retained, by the AOD sector, better outcomes in treatment may result.

The point was made that many professionals do not chose AOD work as a first choice and that if this is to change, recognition and support of AOD work as a rewarding career needs to be encouraged.
Mental Health Services and Drug and Alcohol Services
The gap between mental health services and drug and alcohol services has existed for many years, and is not getting better. Integrated program delivery was seen as the most obvious way to improve the situation.
Multi-cultural and Non-English Speaking Background Clients
Whilst it was acknowledged that the drug using community is diverse, the sector is not engaging with people from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). There are access and equity issues as well as inadequate representation of NESB in drug and alcohol programs and program delivery. There is a need to investigate the factors that improve the appropriateness and efficacy of programs for people from NESB.
Dual Diagnosis and Deaf
Those who are most likely to fall through the cracks are those with a dual diagnosis and who are deaf. Very few services cater for deaf clients.
Training and Funding for Conferences – Government and Non-Government Services & Staff
It was noted by participants that not only is it difficult to find funding for training and conference attendance for non-government AOD staff, those in government funded agencies have the same difficulties.
After Care
There is a need to support people who leave treatment agencies – in the form of aftercare for relapse prevention.
Parents Concern over Ecstasy
Parents are concerned over the increasing use of ecstasy and they need more quality information about the drug and its effects.
Length of Stay in Rehabilitation
Comments were noted that some overseas rehabilitation services include lengthy stays (up to 3 years) with very good outcomes. This comment was made to illustrate the need to fund longer term treatment places as nothing in Australia is currently long enough for a percentage of clients.

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