The head of the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) says the NSW government should prioritise local ideas to curb drug harm as they respond to recommendations from the 2024 Drug Summit.

The government announced in late October that they support 36 of 56 recommendations, including expanding strategies like needle and syringe programs in the bush.

NRHA CEO Susi Tegan welcomed the response and said community-based groups have solutions to their drug problems.

"They're not grant writers, but they're very effective in delivery," Ms Tegan said.

"There are so many grassroots communities and associations that should be funded, not some urban centre that then delivers care without real engagement.

"Make sure that they work with local government or some other entity, but give the money to the community and mentor them to build the capacity at the grassroots."

National Rural Health Alliance CEO Susi Tegan.

Ms Tegan said that "red tape" should not bar grant opportunities to less-resourced community groups.

She welcomed the state government's support for all health professionals to receive drug and alcohol training, and for expanding access to culturally safe services for Indigenous communities.

The government also accepted to release a 10-year "whole-of-government" strategy for alcohol and other drugs.

They gave "in principle" support for 15 recommendations, noted two and are still considering two others.

The government rejected one recommendation; to end use of drug detection dogs and strip searches for suspected drug possession during the state's current trial of pill testing at music festivals.

Dr Rebekah Hoffman, who chairs the NSW and ACT branch of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said the "sensible" reforms will save lives.

"We’re achieving progress. No patient experiencing alcohol and other drug issues should be left behind, but there’s still a long way to go," she said.

"We still only have one medically supervised injecting facility in Sydney, and we need more of these services statewide.

"It’s also vital to expand the reach of needle and syringe programs, particularly in rural, regional, and remote parts of the state where these services can be few and far between."

The 2024 Drug Summit gathered hundreds of voices over November and December to chart a consensus on tackling drug harms.  

They included health experts, people with lived experience, and police and justice representatives.

Summit co-chairs Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden delivered their recommendations on 3 April 2025.

“It (the response) recognises that drug reform traverses the spaces of health, law and order, education, housing and so much more," NSW health minister Ryan Park said.