“For the past 18 months, we have gained a ground swell of community support for government policy to re-focus on prevention in terms of drugs and alcohol”, Drug Free Australia’s spokesperson on alcohol policy, Major Brian Watters said today.

“Mr Rudd’s strategic framework appears to be a very tangible result. He is demonstrating the ability to listen to what the families of Australia are literally crying out for”.

With a 3-pronged, synchronised education campaign, Mr Rudd’s strategy will penetrate into all community sectors.

• 14.4 million to invest in community level initiatives to confront the culture of binge drinking, particularly in sporting organisations; and 
• $19.1 million to intervene earlier to assist young people and ensure that they assume personal responsibility for their binge drinking; 
• $20 million to fund advertising that confronts young people with the costs and consequences of binge drinking.

Drug Free Australia is particularly impressed that the new strategy is non-political and will incorporate agencies, health professionals, parents and family members.

This, coupled with a timely Senate Inquiry to investigate Australia’s high alcohol toll, should begin the long road of effective legislative change. In addition, the Senate Inquiry, which is focusing on Family First’s Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill, will add further to the evidence base that is so necessary to underpin responsible policy development.

The Prime Minister has also pointed out that the ‘National Binge Drinking Strategy’ will dovetail into the new National Preventative Health Taskforce, which will examine ways to reduce the health problems.

‘Importantly, for the future generations of young Australians, Drug Free Australia sees this as a workable model in harm prevention that could easily be translated into illicit drug prevention. For example, according to the United Nations ‘World Drug Report’, Australia still has the highest rate per capita of illicit drug use in the OCED.  Specifically regarding the rise of methamphetamines (ICE), recent reports from the Attorney General’s Department indicate that we also have the highest number of clandestine ICE labs in the OCED.

Poly drug use is increasingly common and alcohol is acknowledged as a gateway drug to the illicits.

We cannot take our eye off the ball for a second, if we are to change a culture of high level drug use in Australia, particularly amongst the young”, said Jo Baxter, Drug Free Australia’s Executive Officer.