FDS Insight Newsletter Oct-Dec 2020

17 systems by investing in community-led programs that support people in need, and that’s exactly what our Greens plan will achieve.’ Comments attributable to ACT Greens campaign spokesperson for Drug Law Reform Rebecca Vassarotti: ‘The Greens initiatives centre around people and aim to boost support for people, meeting them where they are at. When people demonise drug use, they often forget we are talking about people – someone’s son or daughter, their husband, mother, friend. Our initiatives instead aim to ensure that people don’t die or suffer irreparable harm, because they make a poor choice or don’t have enough information. We want to stop the current situation where people are unwilling to seek support when they need it because of fear, stigma and shame. ‘The Greens are committed to building a Better Normal out of the COVID crisis – and reforming how we treat, and talk about, harms from drug use is just another way the Greens are committed to making a better future – for all of us.’ We must deal with drugs as a health issue rather than a criminal one Rebecca Vassarotti, Riotact (6/8/20) The criminalisation of personal drug use has resulted in courts and jail systems overwhelmed by people who use drugs. Photo: File. his week the ACT Greens will release its 2020 Election Drugs Policy package. The plan responds to the reality that many people use drugs. It recognises that the ‘war on drugs’ has failed and we need new approaches to keep people in our community safe. This means ending the unnecessary interactions with the police and justice system, and providing people experiencing drug dependency with the services and support they need. It’s easy to drag out slogans and frame every person who uses drugs as a criminal. But most people know by now that this doesn’t help respond to the adverse effects of drug use in our community. Instead, we know that the community wants evidence-based strategies that ensure that people are informed about the risks of drug use and are able to reduce harms associated with drug use. The community wants to be assured that people can access the support they T