Guest Column
Drugs – A Case for Decriminalisation Former WA Premier now Sydney academic Prof Geoff Gallop says the key to the drug problem is to put the welfare of individuals first.
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arlier this year I was asked to participate in a round table on drug policy organised by the nonprofit research organisation, Australia 21. It helped clarify my beliefs on a subject much influenced by rigid and fundamentalist rather than humane and pragmatic thinking. I was already well down this track and was proud of the reforms my government made in Western Australia following the Drug Summit (2001). It’s clear, however, that the road to reform will be a difficult one and, indeed, some of the changes we made were overturned by the next government, even though there was evidence for their effectiveness. Reform, of course, can mean different things. Some advocate decriminalisation of illicit drug use while others say we ought to go further and legalise and regulate drug supply, as is the case with the licit products such as tobacco and alcohol. My judgement is that evidence and experience certainly supports
decriminalisation but is not as clear cut in relation to the proposal to legalise drug supply. When considering the case for decriminalisation there are several questions we have to ask. Is it right to use the criminal law in relation to drug taking? Does the use of the criminal law actually discourage drug use? Does it actually help those for whom drugs cause harm? Might it not, in fact, make it harder for us to tackle problematic drug use while imposing an unnecessary impediment to those for whom drug use is not harmful? In keeping with a reforming answer to both these questions, Portugal decriminalised purchase, possession and consumption of illicit drugs in quantities consistent with personal use in 2000. At the same time resources were invested in a range of harm reduction measures. The government also created panels called Dissuasion Commissions to assist and advise – and sometimes even apply penalties – to those found in possession of up to 10 days’ worth of an average daily dose of drugs for personal use.
As is always the case “evidence” relating to these issues has been contested. But it is agreed by most that the sky hasn’t fallen in. Reported drug use in vulnerable groups has even fallen. Indeed “the innovative nature of the Portuguese approach proves it is not generals, police officers, or criminal court judges, but rather doctors, social workers, and researchers who need to address drug-related issues” (Artur Domoslawski, Drug policy in Portugal, Open Society Foundations, 2011, p.10). Indeed it’s the same story pretty well everywhere that decriminalisation is given a chance – life is normalised for those previously under the dark shadow of the criminal law and it’s easier for the health professions to offer and give assistance where needed. All too often we look for simplicity in a world of complexity and imperfection. Much better, I say, to put the rights and welfare of the individual first, and provide help when it is needed – it’s more humane and it produces better results for individuals, their families and the wider community. O References on request.
GP After-Hours Makes Headway
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a survey of 452 people in its area and concluded that there was need for more promotion of the after-hours services.
he GP After Hours campaign which began in late April is starting to see some dividend with the latest figures showing a modest increase in the number of attendances at the 62 after-hours clinics listed on the WA Health department’s website.
“About two thirds of people surveyed thought the access could be improved and one in five said the services needed promotional activity. As a result we have taken out advertisements to bring people back to the website and to the phone app.”
In the September quarter, 17,869 people attended a GP after hours service – 1676 more people (or an increase of 10.4%) than the same quarter last year. The media campaign targeted groups with the most semi-urgent and non-urgent presentations at emergency departments, including 18-30 year olds, parents of young children (0-15). The campaign included digital, press and outdoor advertising directing people to the website as well as to a specially launched iPhone application. As a result there were 142,971 unique visitors to the clinic webpage and 9002 downloads of the iPhone app during May and June. A spokesperson for the department said that while the public was finding the resources useful, there was anecdotal evidence from some Medicare 10
“In terms of our doctors, we’d like more, of course, but the majority of our sessions are filled and generally there has been good uptake.” “We have gone back to basics to ensure we make it as easy as possible for doctors as they go between sessions.” Locals and individual GPs that the campaign also provided useful promotion of their services. The Fremantle Medicare Local operates the GP after-hours clinic at Fremantle Hospital and has received After Hours Health Networks funding to operate services for the Cockburn region, drawing on existing general practices which are using their own staff to extend services. The CEO of the Fremantle ML Ms Christa Riegler said her organisation had conducted
The WA Government has committed $8.4m over four years to encourage GPs to extend their opening hours to include weeknights and weekends. Of the 62 after-hours clinics listed on the WA Health website and iPhone app – 47 are located in the Perth metropolitan area including two locum services, and 15 in regional WA and the campaign to recruit more GP services continues. O
By Ms Jan Hallam medicalforum