E-substance March 2009

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Dear reader

This month, eyes are on Vienna where drug policy ministers and policy makers are debating the future of global drug control.  Will they prove their relevance? Ross Bell is currently in Vienna with the NZ government; in this issue he provides an update on last week's deliberations.

Also in the news: public submissions are now being invited on the new alcohol legislation (deadline: April 23); New Zealand fails to ban retail tobacco displays; and Australia's debate around alcopop tax is picking up steam.

Make sure you check out the Website of the Month, key events, and current job vacancies.

Thank you for your continued interest in our work!
The New Zealand Drug Foundation.

 

A drug-abuse-free world

Those expecting an overhaul of the global drug control system will be disappointed in the new Political Declaration agreed at last week's High Level Segment of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. It was always unrealistic to expect UN member states to reject the drug control status quo, but we should be disappointed that the new global declaration has ignored the reality of drug use and harm in today's world.

There's plenty of analysis to come from the new declaration, approved by consensus (with some reservations) last week:

And media coverage of the event:

Yes, the debate over Harm Reduction was lost. And that's perhaps one of the most frustrating things about the "Vienna Consensus" - the majority of Member States supported harm reduction being included in the final declaration, but their voice was ignored in the weeks leading up to the March meeting; being drowned out by a minority. It only takes one country to reject the language, which happened with "harm reduction" which was rejected by more than one country (even the shifting position of the Obama administration didn't help).

But the bottom line remains, regardless of what we call the interventions ("harm reduction" or "care and related support services"), services such as needle exchange must be made available to people who use drugs as part of the continuum of care. We do this well in New Zealand, but others (Russia!) have a long way to go.

And it was good to see NGO efforts acknowledged in the final declaration (although, again there is plenty to be disappointed about). In the lead-up to the March meeting, New Zealand pushed very hard for explicit recognition of the Beyond 2008 Declaration - we didn't get that, but Beyond 2008 was still influential as shown in the Political Declaration where leaders "...welcome the important role played by civil society, in particular NGOs, in addressing the world drug problem, and note with appreciation their important contribution to the UNGASS review process."

That's not the only influence Beyond 2008 had:

  • Where NGOs called upon "CND (Commission on Narcotic Drugs) to re-emphasize the importance of adhering to and fulfilling the obligations and commitments of international instruments such as the…UN Charter, Universal Declaration on Human Rights…", the Political Declaration urged "all aspects of demand, supply reduction, and international cooperation are taken in full conformity with the purposes and the principles of the Charter of the UN and international law, the Declaration on Human Rights…"
  • Again, where NGOs said "that the reduction of illicit/harmful drug use are considered as challenges as equal importance to and required as supply reduction activities", the CND stated that the "goal of both demand and supply reduction strategies…in order to ensure the health and welfare of humankind, and emphasize that each strategy is ineffective in the absence of the other…"
  • And on essential medicine the NGOs said "medical use of narcotic drugs continues to be indispensable for the relief of pain and suffering and the treatment of addiction, and that adequate provisions must be made to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs for such purposes"; CND agreed and called "for continued cooperation between Member States, INCB and WHO in this regard, to ensure the adequate availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including opiates, under international control for medical and scientific purposes".

Now that the political leaders have left Vienna (including Bolvia's Evo Morales, who chewed a coca leaf while on stage with the UNODC head Maria Antonia Costa) the usual business of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs has begun. Keep reading the CND Blog to stay in touch with this week's efforts.

Ross Bell, from Vienna

 

Public submissions invited for new liquor legislation

Public submissions are now being invited on the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquid Enforcement Bill. Closing date for submissions is Thursday, 23 April 2009.

The bill amends the Sale of Liquor Act 1989, the Summary Offences Act 1981, and the Land Transport Act 1998 to implement recommendations arising from recent reviews of the sale and supply of liquor to minors, and sale of liquor and liquor enforcement issues. It also introduces a new system of enforced self-regulation of alcohol advertising.

The bill would give local councils extra powers on liquor licensing, tighten regulations for retail outlets, and toughen penalties for those caught selling or supplying alcohol to minors. The proposed legislation also includes a zero alcohol limit for drivers under 20 who do not have a full license.

For information on making submissions, go to www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/SC/SubmCalled/0/3/4/49SCJEsaleandsupplyofliquo200904231-Sale-and-Supply-of-Liquor-and.htm

 

Tobacco displays here to stay

The government ruled against the tobacco display ban saying there was no clear-cut evidence in favour of the ban, against a health select committee report which recommended the ban. More than 20,000 people submitted a petition to the select committee supporting a ban.

However, Labour Party plans to re-introduce legislation through a member's bill. "The fact is cigarettes kill, not when they are misused or abused, but when they are used as intended. That's not the sort of thing that should be on display next to bread and milk," Labour's health spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway said.

The New Zealand Medical Association urged the Government to reconsider the move. "Stopping the tobacco industry from advertising its products at point of sale is a vital step towards ensuring that the next generation of young New Zealanders don't get hooked on an addictive product which kills half of its long-term users," NZMA chairman Peter Foley said.

The Nurses Organisation and the Dental Association were dismayed by the government's decision, saying research showed young people did notice tobacco displays and teenagers who saw them were more likely to start smoking. Both organisations were also unconvinced retailers would face costs as a result of the ban. "The tobacco industry has paid for the current display set up in the form of rebates and assistance with providing the displays in the first place. They could also pay for any changes required."

It appears the only group happy about the move were the Stay Displays Coalition, a group of more than 200 retailers nationwide, who called the government's move a "common sense approach". "Retailers minds can now be put at ease because there is one less worry in these difficult economic times. There is no evidence that banning displays will reduce smoking," they said.

Australia, NSW, Tasmania, ACT, and Victoria have already taken the steps to remove tobacco displays.

 

International Drug Policy: Animated Report 2009

Produced by an Oscar-winning studio for the Global Drug Policy Program of the Open Society Institute, International Drug Policy: Animated Report 2009 highlights some of the disastrous effects of drug policy in recent years and proposes solutions for a way forward.

In the run-up to the March 2009 UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting-where the future path of international drug policy will be determined-this film seeks to show that pursuing a "drug-free world" can lead to more harm than good. http://www.soros.org/initiatives/drugpolicy/multimedia/drugreport_20090303

 

Alcopops tax deadline adds the heat

The alcopops debate heated up in Australia's federal parliament last week, as senators grilled health and treasury department officials, medical experts, and the alcohol industry. The Rudd Government increased excise on RTDs by 70 per cent last April. It needs to get supporting legislation through Parliament by March 19 or risks having to return to distillers the extra tax that's been collected.

Twenty of the nation's top doctors and leaders of the alcohol and drug treatment sector published a joint letter urging senators to pass the bill the Coalition has promised to block.  "We trust the Senate can put aside political differences and vote on the basis of sound research evidence, rather than liquor industry propaganda. The alcopops tax measure is one important step in what needs to be a comprehensive response to the burden of alcohol related harm," the letter said.

The Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia said there was not one iota of evidence that the alcopops tax hike had cut binge drinking.

Read full coverage in the Australian media:

 

Website of the month - Talking Drugs
www.talkingdrugs.org

Talking Drugs is a new online space that encourages sharing experiences and insights by ordinary people around the world, whose communities are being let down by failing drug policies. Registered users are able to upload stories, audio, photographs and videos, bringing drug policy issues to life. Multi-lingual text enables geographically and linguistically separated communities interaction and sharing their narratives of how society attempts to tackle the issue of illicit drug use. As an example of the site's diversity, the home page includes links to a video about the plight of Afghanistan's opium farmers, a short film exploring the impact of the war on drugs on African Americans, and a clip featuring Barack Obama speaking about drug policy. Talking Drugs is managed by Release, the UK's centre of expertise on drugs, the law and human rights. Volunteers are currently being sought to assist in the site's further development. Check out this unique participatory mechanism for global dialogue and action on drugs and drug policy at www.talkingdrugs.org

 

Events

  • Justice Health in Australia, 6-7 April, Melbourne, Australia
  • Central Regional Addiction Forum, 15-16 April, Palmerston North
  • International Harm Reduction Conference, 19-23 April, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Youth Week, 26-31 May, New Zealand-wide

For details on these and other events, and to submit your event, visit www.drugfoundation.org.nz/events.

Jobs

  • Registered Midwife, Tamaki Ward, Auckland District Health Board
  • Counsellor, Alcohol & Drug Services, Northland District Health Board
  • Coordinator Maori Projects, Matua Raki, Wellington

For these and other vacancies, and to submit your vacancy, visit www.drugfoundation.org.nz/jobs.

 

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