Police

DRUG POLICY

And

PROGRAMS

Harm Minimisation

Supply Reduction

Demand Reduction

Harm Reduction

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

The impact of drugs

The economic costs associated with harmful drug use, including prevention, treatment, loss of productivity in the workplace, property crime, theft, accidents and law enforcement activities, amounts to billions of dollars annually.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

The health costs of a drug dependent

person are estimated to be some 80 per

cent higher than those of the average

citizen in the same age group.

Special concerns arise because drug use

occurs most frequently in the 15 to 35

age group that includes young people

entering or about to enter the workforce.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Social costs of drug misuse are less

easily quantified; however their impacts

may be more insidious.

Social integration and cohesion (at the

family, community and even broader

levels) are almost always compromised

by an escalating drug problem.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

The lifestyle associated with drug misuse can contribute

significantly to destructive anti-social behaviour,

violence and child abuse, loss of employment,

financial hardship, dependency, and social

marginalisation.

Misuse of drugs by individuals can result in a wide

range of associated harms to various groups that

impact on policing activities each day at the local

level.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Harm minimisation refers to policies and programs aimed at reducing drug related harm.

Harm minimisation aims to improve health, social and economic outcomes for both the community and the individual and encompasses a wide range of approaches, including:

• supply-reduction strategies designed to disrupt the production and supply of illicit drugs;

• demand-reduction strategies designed to prevent the uptake of harmful drug use, including abstinence-oriented strategies to reduce drug use;

• a range of targeted harm-reduction strategies designed to reduce drug-related harm for particular individuals and communities.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

• Governments do not condone illegal risk behaviours such as injecting drug use, but they do acknowledge that these behaviours occur.

• They have a responsibility to develop and implement public health and law-enforcement measures designed to reduce the harm that such behaviours can cause, both to the individual and the community.

• In these circumstances harm-reduction strategies specifically target the individual using drugs and promote initiatives that benefit the wider community.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Role of Police in drug harm minimisation

The Police approach to drugs in the community is based on the principle of harm minimisation.

Police are an active participant in the National Drug Strategic Plan and as such contributes to reducing drug harm through activities designed to reduce the supply of, demand for and harm caused by drug use.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Role of Police in drug harm minimisation

Police provide both an investigative and proactive function in reducing drug harm.

Police investigations conducted through specialist squads and general duties police aim to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and restrict inappropriate access to licit drugs.

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Police also proactively pursues harm minimisation objectives by providing the best training and intelligence for its members and by working with local communities and community groups to address drug issues.

Specific harm minimisation policies and programs include:

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Supply Reduction:

• Inter-agency operations - Customs - AFP

• Major Drug Investigation Division

• Regional Initiatives - targeted street

operations

• General Duties

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Demand Reduction:

• Drug Diversion/Cannabis Cautioning

• school and community education

• referrals to Alcohol & other Drug

agencies/treatment services

• Court programs

Police DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMSPolice DRUG POLICY And PROGRAMS

Harm Reduction:

• Response to Overdose Policy

• Needle and Syringe Program Policy

• Safe searching - needle stick injuries

• Monitoring of drug affected prisoners

• OST in Custody