Our Charter

We recognise that the present prohibition policies:

• are not preventing the use and abuse of illegal drugs;
• do not protect our young people, their families or their friends from related tragedy;
• cause unintended harm and limit harm reduction strategies;
• marginalise and stigmatise people in our community;
• work against the application of human rights for dependent drug users; impede the development of beneficial medical applications of illegal drugs;
• put the control of illegal drugs outside the law;
• create the conditions for a black market that enriches criminals and promotes the distribution of the drugs;
• fund terrorist activities; waste enormous economic resources.

Further we resolve to promote:

• activities that raise awareness of the issues;
• activities that will overcome stereotyping and marginalisation;
• education programs that are directed toward reducing harm and minimising abuse; standards and accreditation for drug treatments and interventions;
• provision of adequate and well resourced drug treatments and interventions;
• the important role of families in drug treatment and rehabilitation;
• the search for better drug policies based on evidence;
• cautious and well-researched steps toward changing laws so that they cause less harm;
• removal of criminal sanctions for personal use of currently illegal drugs.