The ACT is making significant progress in delivering the ACT Drug Strategy Action Plan 2022-2026 (DSAP), with 27 of the 34 actions being significantly progressed or completed.
The DSAP outlines the ACT Government and whole of sector priorities to address and minimise harms from alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and non-medical use of pharmaceuticals.
It supports Canberrans by focusing on areas such as improved service navigation, stigma reduction and supports for individuals with co-occurring issues.
As part of the Action Plan, the ACT has become home to Australia's first fixed-site drug checking service, CanTEST.
The CanTEST service tested nearly 3000 samples in its first two years of operation, helping Canberrans to make safer choices, with one in 10 people choosing to discard potentially dangerous substances after testing.
Significant drug law reforms and criminal justice initiatives have also helped to keep people out of the criminal justice system while ensuring they get the help they may need. The government has expanded the Drug and Alcohol Sentencing List from 35 to 42 concurrent participants and reduced the maximum penalties for personal possession of illicit drugs through the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Act 2022.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith welcomed the DSAP mid-point progress report and noted stable community outcomes and declining drug-related charges, which demonstrates the changes are working for the benefit of our whole community.
"We are also investing across the health sector to improve alcohol and other drug services and facilities in the ACT, with programs like the Pathways to Assistance and Treatment (PAT) mobile clinic, and the Take-Home Naloxone Program, making a real difference to people's lives," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"We are also working with our community partners to deliver specialised services for vulnerable groups in the ACT, including Canberra's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation facility, as well as a new facility for Ted Noffs' youth alcohol and other drug treatment service."
The DSAP also aims to reduce vaping and tobacco smoking harms in the ACT. During the life of the Action Plan, the ACT Government has secured a $1.065 million Federation Funding Agreement to enhance Quitline and other smoking and vaping cessation support services.
"Youth vaping remains a major concern in the community, which is why – through our partnership with the Commonwealth – the ACT is enhancing its Quitline service to include digital support options and establishing a new vaping cessation support service for young people," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
The ACT Government has also funded an independent harm reduction review, led by the Australian National University and Burnet Institute, partnering with the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy.
The review found that current harm reduction interventions in the ACT are cost effective, with the ACT investing in effective initiatives including opioid maintenance therapy (OMT), needle and syringe programs (NSP), naloxone, and CanTEST.
The review also provided insight into further service development and enhancement opportunities to be considered in the future.
