ACT Health’s Alcohol and Other Drugs Unit has released a new Drug Strategy Action Plan for community consultation.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Meegan Fitzharris said the Action Plan had been developed with input from a range of stakeholders and summarised the ACT Government’s priority actions in relation to a range of issues.
“The Drug Strategy Action Plan has a clear focus on preventative health, with tobacco smoking and risky alcohol consumption being two of the key risk factors which contribute significantly to the burden of chronic disease in our community,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“The ACT Government remains committed to investing in evidence‑based responses to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and has a track record for innovating in this area as shown by the successful introduction of Australia’s first pill testing trial.”
She said the Action Plan was aligned to the National Drug Strategy 2017–2026 and aimed to build safe, healthy and resilient communities through preventing and minimising alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related health, social, cultural and economic harms among individuals, families and communities.
“In line with the National Strategy, the ACT Government will take a ‘harm minimisation’ approach, focusing on demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction,” Ms Fitzharris said.
“This threefold approach will look to prevent uptake, reduce harmful use and support people to recover; restrict availability and access to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs to prevent and reduce problems; and encourage safer behaviour and reduce preventable risk factors.”
The consultation is open until 3 August.
The Action Plan, including information on how to lodge a comment, can be accessed on the YourSay website at this PS News link.
