National Drug Policy 2007-2012: Foreword

National Drug Policy 2007-2012
Foreword

Table of contents:

Foreword

Part One: Introduction

Part Two: The Next Five Years

Appendices

Abbreviations

References and Bibliography

In New Zealand, we have taken decisive action and achieved significant advances in many areas of drug policy. Since the release of the first National Drug Policy, smoking has been banned from enclosed workplaces including bars and restaurants and the Government has adjusted alcohol excise to better reflect the harms that were posed by cheap spirit based drinks. We have faced a changing illegal drug environment, including a surge in the availability of methamphetamine and other amphetamine type substances. Methamphetamine and its precursor substances have been made classified drugs and the Misuse of Drugs Act has been amended to provide for a new class of drugs that pose a low risk but are still worthy of some form of control. Twenty-four Community Action Youth and Drugs programmes are now established working with communities to address drug-related harm particularly amongst young people.

While these are noteworthy accomplishments, there is still much to do in reducing harm from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. I am pleased to introduce this second National Drug Policy, which reflects those achievements by building on the first NDP. It will serve as the basis for New Zealand’s policy and practices aimed at preventing and reducing drug related harm throughout the community over the next five years.

Drug policy is a complex area that requires input and participation from a wide range of government and non-government agencies. Across the sectors there is a substantial resource and expertise to progress the objectives of this policy. Initiatives range from work by law enforcement agencies to seize illicit drugs, education to highlight the dangers of taking drugs through to alcohol and drug treatment services. In the next five years, this second National Drug Policy will continue to act as a framework to guide funding decisions around drug policy.

The second NDP maintains the principles of the first to minimise the harm from drugs but further broadens the intersectoral focus, with greater emphasis on social and economic, harm from drug abuse. There is also a greater emphasis on the collection of, and access to, information in order to inform policy and measure the impacts of policy interventions.

As Minister responsible for this Government’s illicit drug policy and Chair of the Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy, I will be working with my Ministerial colleagues to ensure that Government policy engages all sectors in the development of innovative, coherent, coordinated, and consistent policy that is informed by evidence of effectiveness.

With this plan the overarching direction for the next five years is being set. The next challenge for government agencies will be the development of action plans based on the principles set out in this policy aimed at focusing activity on the prevention and reduction of drug related harm.