Medical bodies are calling for NSW alcohol and drug reform after the state recorded the highest average regional consumption of a range of illicit drugs. 

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling for recommendations from a report created on crystal methamphetamine consumption or ‘ice’ to be implemented, after it has laid untouched two and half years later. 

RACGP President Adj. Professor Karen Price said that given the obvious drug-related issues in the state, a new approach is necessary.



“Disappointingly there was no funding included in the NSW budget handed down just last week - this is a missed opportunity,” Professor Price said. 

RACGP Chair of Specific Interest Addiction Medicine network Dr Hester Wilson, like the report, recommends a change in approach that focuses on health and assistance from health channels, rather than disciplinary and punishment approaches. 

“Punishing people with alcohol and other drug problems does not work. It is counterproductive and can make their situation a lot worse in the long run, instead they need help and compassion,” Dr Wilson said.

“We need to carefully look at the underlying causes of alcohol and other drug use,” she said.

Within the report, the committee recognised rural and remote areas as a ‘priority’, finding the ‘severe shortage of beds’ in health services meant that the high demand for rehabilitation services were largely unmet.

A lack of suitably qualified and skilled staff was also recognised as a barrier to treatment. 

During the inquiry held in 2019, hearings held in Dubbo found that family breakdowns, poor literacy, crime and violence were all the impacts of ice use in Western NSW. 

At the time of the hearing, it was estimated that ice use in Dubbo had risen by more than 60 per cent, six times the national average. 

This trend is rife across Western NSW, with statistics reflecting a big ice problem in comparison to the state average. 

In the year to March 2022, Walgett offences involving amphetamines were three times the state average.

Traces of substances detected in wastewater (much like how Covid-19 was detected in LGAs) show that despite the use of some substances seeming to go down in regional NSW in the last two years, the use of cocaine, methylamphetamine, MDMA and MDA increased in both capital and regional areas. 

With Australia finding its own reputation as the highest methamphetamine consumption per capita compared to 24 other countries, experts are adamant something needs to change. 

“The government should respond to the recommendations and develop an evidence-based whole-of-government alcohol and other drugs policy as well as a Drug Action Plan, as recommended in the report,” Dr Wilson said. 

“There has never been a more important time to act on the report’s findings.”