This report argues that Australia’s National Drug Strategy 2010–2015 is not able to minimise the harm to the country caused by ice, and discusses an alternative strategic framework to respond to the challenge.

Overview

In this report, law enforcement isn't focused on arrests, prosecutions, custodial offences or seizures, as none of those will have a guaranteed impact on the problem. The focus is on means to reduce the availability of drugs, the disruption of user behaviour and the integration of education and health initiatives.

The report argues that the National Ice Strategy should consider three key points:

1. Integration. Drug strategies have a better chance of being successful when each of its initiatives are integrated into a strategically focussed harm reduction strategy.
2. Innovation. Education, health and enforcement stakeholder should be free from the limitations of wholly quantitative performance measures.
3. Disruption. Initiatives to tackle the ice problem should be focussed towards the disruption of problems rather than the treatment of symptoms of the problem.