IT appears that Tasmanians are not as conservative as we are often portrayed, particularly when it comes to illicit drug policies.
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We already knew from research conducted last year that nearly 70 per cent of those who responded did not believe that the possession of cannabis or marijuana for personal use should be a criminal offence.
The findings supported our long-held position that an individual's illicit drug use should be seen first and foremost as a health issue rather than a legal one.
More recently, the ATDC placed two questions in the February EMRS Omnibus Survey, the results of which provide a further reliable indicator of attitudes in Tasmania.
We asked two questions on attitudes to drug checking and decriminalisation of illicit drugs.
In summary, the research revealed that Tasmanians support fixed site drug checking and also support the shift to a decriminalisation model similar to that in the ACT and Queensland where we see people diverted from the criminal system towards an expanded and highly capable alcohol and other drug service system.
The results in more detail were as follows:
- Almost two thirds of Tasmanians (65 per cent) supported allowing people to test their pills or drugs at designated sites to inform them of the purity and substance. Fourteen per cent of respondents were either unsure or neither supported nor opposed, with only 20 per cent opposed.
- Eighty-five per cent of Tasmanians believe there should be some form of intervention for drug possession (ranging from referral to a treatment of education program to a caution / warning, community service / weekend detection or a monetary fine). Eleven per cent of respondents said no action should be taken and only four per cent felt a prison sentence was appropriate.
- Importantly, 36 per cent of respondents believed referral to a treatment or education program was the best action for people found with small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use.
The ATDC has long known that referral to treatment or education is a "best buy" in terms of what works to address the impact of drugs.
Any model of decriminalisation introduced in Tasmania would need an expanded alcohol and other drug treatment system, placing less pressure on police, justice and hospitals.
This is, in our view, secondary to the enormous benefits for individuals, families and communities across Tasmania that would now know what to do if they needed to reach out for assistance.
And, with less people receiving criminal records for small amounts of illicit drugs, this would mean less barriers to people staying in employment and with their families and accessing support (if they want it).
The ATDC believes this approach is sensible, and that the time is right for our politicians to actively consider such steps - based on the research, they won't lose votes, they may even gain them.
In the meantime, we await the release of the Tasmanian Drug Strategy.
And we are committed to continuing conversations with the community and the government about the matters raised in the latest EMRS survey.
We remain optimistic that there is a growing appetite for change. It is very pleasing to be able to reflect on where we are at today, comparing it to where we have come from, vindicated that everything we have been campaigning for in the last few years has been worth the effort.
Jackie Hallam is the Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tasmania (ATDC) CEO
The ATDC is the peak body supporting community organisations, and the people they assist, to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug related harm.
