December 5th 2024.
A group of influential delegates from the New South Wales government's 2024 Drug Summit has come together to urge the government to implement sweeping reforms that they believe will save lives across the state. These reforms include measures such as pill testing and more supervised injecting rooms, and the delegates are calling on the government to take swift action.
Among the delegates who delivered this statement at the summit's conclusion in Sydney today were the Health Services Union, MPs Alex Greenwhich and Jeremy Buckingham, the Uniting Church, the not-for-profit organization Unharm, and various health unions. "The current situation is costing lives in NSW and we need urgent reform," stated HSU NSW Secretary Gerard Hayes.
He went on to say, "We have the opportunity to save lives this summer by implementing practical solutions like festival drug testing and diversion programs. We also need to expand successful programs like the Kings Cross injecting center to other communities in need."
The delegates emphasized the need for pill testing, citing an increase in unexpectedly potent and contaminated drugs. They also expressed concern about the upcoming hot summer weather, which increases the risk of overheating and overdosing. In addition, they called for laws surrounding drug driving to be modified for medicinal cannabis users, treating it similarly to impaired driving under other legal substances like alcohol.
Currently, anyone with even trace amounts of cannabis in their system is considered to be driving illegally, regardless of their level of impairment. To address the issue of illegal drugs in general, the delegates also urged the government to open more safe injecting rooms in communities in need, pointing to the success of the facility in Kings Cross, Sydney, in helping thousands of people.
The statement also highlighted flaws in the diversion program, which was introduced to steer low-level drug users away from the criminal justice system. The delegates noted that it is not consistently applied, with certain communities, particularly Indigenous Australians, rarely being offered diversion. They also pointed out the rising issue of prescription drug addiction, with patients obtaining multiple prescriptions from different doctors. In response, they called for the government to introduce safeguards and interventions to help address this problem.
"We've had enough reports and reviews, it's time for the government to take action on critical reforms that will protect our children, support our communities, and save countless lives across the state," stated Hayes. He also urged people to download the 9News app to stay updated on the latest news, sports, politics, and weather, and receive notifications straight to their smartphones. The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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