Illicit and Pharmaceutical Drugs

The Greens (WA) believe that illicit drug use and prescription drug misuse are serious health and social issues and that an evidence-based harm minimisation approach is the most effective way to manage these problems. The Greens (WA) do not support the legalisation of drugs that are currently illegal.

Goals

The Greens (WA) want: 

• a national whole of government approach to prevention and early intervention;
• independent research into the effects of short and long term use of cannabis and other illegal drugs, including cocaine, morphine, amphetamines, LSD and ecstasy;
• the Federal government to cover drug-free rehabilitation programs with Medicare;
• an adherence to the established national approach towards harm minimisation which should be reviewed regularly to address changing patterns of use and other emerging issues;
• continued support for programs that have proven to be effective in reducing drug related harm to individuals and communities such as needle and syringe exchange programs and methadone maintenance treatment;
• increased attention given to the issue of illicit drug misuse by Indigenous Australians and programs to be developed by the communities and supported by National/State funding. 

Initiatives

The Greens (WA) will initiate and support legislation and actions that: 

• ban donations from the pharmaceutical industries to all levels of government;
• advocate to the Federal government to make drug substitution treatments available under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, and compensate pharmacists for costs of dispensing treatment;
• implement needle exchange programs in all regional areas and prisons; and
• continue research into the development and trial of new methods to reduce the likelihood of relapse for people recovering from narcotic dependence.

Rehabilitation and education

• ensure that all local communities have drug education information kits in their public libraries and community centres that deal with associated harm from drug use and prescription drug misuse, and harm minimisation;
• increase government funding to provide easily accessible and sensitive counselling and treatment programs with adequate follow-up for drug users and affected family members;
• tailor school-based drug education so that it explains the harm associated with drug use and prescription drug misuse;

Solvents and inhalants

• address as a matter of urgency, solvent and substance inhalation, including the underlying issues and education and treatment options; and
• support the comprehensive roll out of Opal non-sniffable fuel, or conversion of entire communities to diesel vehicles only, throughout regions in Western Australia where petrol sniffing and trafficking is a problem. Also provide associated diversionary and rehabilitation programs.

Pharmaceutical drugs

• research the effects and addictive properties of commonly over-prescribed drugs, with a view to greater restriction and regulation of those found to have harmful effects; and
• ensure mandatory labelling and verbal advice by doctors as to the effects and potential for addiction of prescribed drugs.

Cannabis

• regulate the personal use of cannabis, primarily within a health and social framework, with provision for fines for repeat offenders;
• continue to research the use of cannabis for relief of chronic pain and other conditions; and
• allow doctors to prescribe cannabis for specified medical conditions such as chemo-induced nausea, AIDS-related wasting syndrome and chronic pain.

Heroin

• retain strict penalties for selling, supplying or trafficking heroin;
• introduce safe injecting rooms in suitable locations in metropolitan and regional centres;
• implement needle exchange programs in all regional areas, regional centres and prisons;
• remove personal use and possession of heroin from the criminal code; and
• significantly increase the funding available for the use of appropriate treatments for heroin dependency and funding for support structures needed with these types of treatments.

Ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines and other illicit drugs

• retain strict penalties for selling, supplying or trafficking these drugs;
• develop more social education and other programs on the dangers of drugs of concern such as GBH, Rohypnol and the so-called “date-rape” drugs; and
• remove personal use and possession from the criminal code.