A health-based approach to drug harm in Aotearoa

With a few positive exceptions, such as drug checking, services are only offered to people at the most extreme end of the spectrum of harm, and only after this harm has occurred for several years.

We can do better by offering support earlier and preventing harm to people who use drugs and their communities.

A preventative approach would also save significant amounts of money on criminal justice processes and expensive medical care.

To achieve this, people should be able to access a full range of evidence-based information and support options for drug and alcohol use at the time they need them.

This can be done in a cost-effective way, by strengthening natural supports.

After all, not everyone who experiences substance-related harm needs formal services.
Sometimes, all that’s needed is making sure that those around are equipped to help – and they will.

We need to shift to a system that:

• Understands what causes harm from drug use and focuses on reducing that harm
• Works for the whole population, not just those who are already struggling with their drug use
• Prioritises interventions designed for communities who are most likely to experience drug harms

While a full overhaul of our drug laws is needed to transform the outcomes of New Zealanders who use drugs, in this document we focus on health services and system changes that can be achieved under current legislation or with small regulatory changes.

Our vision supports communities to develop their own solutions, it values lived and living experience, and it embraces innovation.