Time for Change Survey and Report

52 Conclusion This report presents clear and compelling evidence that Australia’s current drug policies are in urgent need of reform. The overwhelming support for harm reduction initiatives, wider systemic reforms, and improved access to treatment services demonstrates a strong public desire for drug policies that prioritise health and human rights over criminalisation and enforcement. The data highlights the need for governments at all levels to shift resources away from punitive law enforcement measures and toward evidence-based strategies that improve health outcomes, prevent overdoses, and support individuals and families affected by drug use and/or the negative effects of current drug policy approaches. Importantly, this requires meaningful engagement with people who use drugs, their families, frontline workers, and communities to ensure that policy decisions are informed by lived/living experience and real-world evidence. Harm reduction measures such as supervised drug consumption rooms, peer-led support services, and public drug early warning systems have been shown to save lives and reduce the negative impacts of drug use on individuals and communities. The lack of needle and syringe programs in prisons remains a significant public health failure that must be addressed, while greater investment in Opioid Treatment Programs is critical to ensuring affordable and accessible treatment for those in need. The growing support for decriminalisation and legal regulation of cannabis and other drugs reflects a global trend towards more progressive drug policies that treat drug use as a social issue with health dimensions rather than a criminal justice issue. Countries that have embraced these models have seen significant reductions in drug-related harms, criminal justice system burdens, and social stigma, providing Australia with a clear path forward. The Australian Government also has a responsibility to extend its harm reduction efforts beyond its borders by increasing investment in community-led harm reduction services in the broader Asia-Pacific region. With over three-quarters (76.6%) of survey respondents supporting such initiatives, there is clear public backing for a stronger regional response to drug-related harms, particularly in countries where harm reduction services are limited. Targeted funding and collaboration with regional partners will not only enhance public health outcomes but also strengthen Australia’s leadership in promoting humane and effective drug policies in the Pacific. While this report acknowledges the complexity of drug policy reform, the findings indicate that a more balanced and humane approach is not only possible but widely supported by those who understand these issues the most – people who use drugs, families, young people, and those working in frontline AOD services. Moreover, the findings in this report are also consistent with the wider views of the Australian public as expressed in annual surveys such as the