Drugs and drug testing have hit the news headlines in NSW recently, with calls for an increase in roadside drug testing. At the same time, the state digests the key takeaways from the recent summit on drug-related harm.
Calls for increased roadside drug testing
A new report by the NRMA shows that one in 10 drivers pulled over for random roadside drug testing in NSW have tested positive in the past 12 months. This has led to the Driving High report to urge the NSW state government to increase roadside drug testing to 200,000 tests annually, up from 160,000 in 2023.
The report highlights that drug driving has become the second-leading cause of road fatalities in NSW, surpassing fatigue, drink driving and not wearing seatbelts. In 2023, 79 lives were lost in drug-related crashes, a rise of 24 deaths compared to 2022.
Here are some interesting and sometimes alarming findings contained in the report:
- Cannabis was the most common drug detected in nearly 70% of drug driving crashes, followed by methamphetamine (43%) and cocaine (7%).
- The report also found that males make up the overwhelming majority of drivers involved in fatal crashes with drugs in their system (85%).
- The largest group affected were drivers or motorcyclists aged 20-29 years, accounting for 31% of drug-related incidents.
Key takeaways from the drug summit in NSW
ABC News has provided a report on what it calls the key takeaways from the NSW drug summit, held earlier this month.
Sydney’s International Convention Centre hosted the two-day drug summit, gathering politicians, experts, police, health professionals and people with lived experience to address drug-related harm in New South Wales.
Key topics included decriminalisation, pill testing, harm prevention and the disproportionate impact of drugs on First Nations communities:
- While calls for drug decriminalisation were prominent, Premier Chris Minns and Health Minister Ryan Park reaffirmed the government’s stance against it. The Mayor of Portland, Oregon in the United States spoke about their city’s account of repealing decriminalisation. However, former ice inquiry commissioner Dan Howard rejected comparisons between Oregon and NSW, labelling them a “false equivalent.”
- Pill testing did emerge as a more palatable reform, with Minister Park expressing openness to discussions. Former Premier Bob Carr supported pill testing measures to prevent deaths from impure substances. Meanwhile, Professor Alison Ritter proposed “no-cost options”, such as enabling local communities to approve supervised injecting centres.
- Speakers, including Amy Peacock from NDARC, warned of the unpredictability of illicit drugs due to synthetic compounds and increasing potency. Overdoses linked to high-purity stimulants and novel psychoactive drugs like nitazenes are becoming more common, posing new challenges.
- Discussions also highlighted First Nations inequities, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people overrepresented in treatment programs. Calls were made for a dedicated summit and government strategy addressing their specific needs.
- A recurring theme from the drug summit was the need for greater investment in prevention and early intervention, with experts noting that less than 2% of drug health spending currently focuses on harm prevention.
- While no commitments were made, the summit underscored the importance of balancing health, justice and prevention strategies to reduce drug-related harm across NSW.
- A final report is expected in early 2025.
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There have been calls for an increase in roadside drug testing in NSW, as the state digests the key takeaways from the recent summit on drug-related harm.
