|
Aims
and objectives of the
Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation
This Charter for Drug Law Reform, also
endorsed by the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law Reform,
seeks to encourage a more rational, tolerant and humanitarian
approach to the problems created by drugs and drug use in Australia.
Preamble
Given that the members of the Australian Drug
Law Reform Foundation recognise:
- the massive size and escalation of the
illicit drug trade and the resulting prevalence and power of
organised crime;
- national and international policies of
prohibition have failed to suppress illicit drug supply
notwithstanding enormous financial and legal resources expended
in their implementation;
- current policies have led to an escalation
of crimes against property and associated crimes of violence;
- prohibition is a greater threat to personal
and community health than a system of controlled availability;
- civil liberties are being eroded in
attempts to stem the supply of illicit drugs;
- the fact that drug use will continue in our
society;
- potential profits and pyramid supply
structure in illicit drug dealing lead to active recruitment of
new drug users and active introduction of new products to
existing users;
- prohibition increases the burden on the
criminal justice system; and
- prohibition promotes corruption;
The Foundation aims to
promote:
- The unequivocal opposition to policies of
prohibition with regards to illicit drugs of dependence and
psychotropic substances;
- the nation-wide adoption of drug policies
based on harm minimisation strategies;
- the acceptance of responsibility to reform
drug laws, policies and programs; and
- the establishment of policies that will
control production, manufacture and distribution of drugs of
dependence and psychotropic substances.
Urgent Reforms
The Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation
recognises that:
- Australia has current obligations under
International Treaties;
- there is no approach to the use of drugs of
dependence and psychotropic substances which will ever provide a
drug free community;
- some measure of success has already been
achieved through adopton of policies which give priority to the
minimisation of harm;
- there is some positive overseas experience
of new approaches to drug law which can provide useful models
for Australian reform.
Therefore, the primary objectives of the
Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation are:
- the urgent adoption of drug policies based
on strategies of harm minimisation throughout Australia;
- the establishment and legalisation of
readily accessible needle exchange and distribution programs
throughout Australia;
- the introduction and maintenance of broad
based methadone programs for all heroin users seeking this type
of assistance;
- the expansion of drug rehabilitation
programs in range and number to provide access and choice;
- the provision of politically independent
finance and support for properly conducted scientific studies
into the treatment of drug users, or the use and misuse of drugs
of dependence and psychotropic substances, including alcohol and
tobacco; and
- the development of educational programs
based on self reliance and sound scientific research.
Short Term Goals
The immediate objectives of the Australian
Drug Law Reform Foundation are:
- to seek to increase the focus of a National
drugs strategy on the reduction of harm associated with drug
use;
- to seek the abolition of criminal sanctions
for the personal use of drugs of dependence and psychotropic
substances throughout Australia;
- to seek the adoption, on a national basis,
of the South Australian and Australian Capital Territory
expiation notice model for the reform of laws regarding the
personal use and cultivation of marijuana;
- to seek the adoption of appropriate medical
uses of marijuana and heroin throughout Australia; and
- to seek the adoption, throughout Australia,
of a medical model including consultation and prescription, for
the distribution of selected illicit drugs.
Long Term Goals
The long term objective of the Australian Drug
Law Reform Foundation is to seek a national commitment to undermine
the black market and illicit trade in drugs of dependence and
psychotropic substances, with its inherent problems, by adopting the
following long term goals:
- the reassessment of Australia's commitment
to its International Treaties on illicit drugs and psychotropic
substances;
- independent cost-benefit analysis of all
policies which seek to resolve the problems of dependence and
substance misuse;
- the reform of drug laws in planned stages
with detailed evaluation of such laws at all stages; and
- the minimisation of the harmful use of
drugs.
|
