Greens urge for drug addiction to be viewed as a health problem

Leader of the Greens Richard Di Natale and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters will reportedly push for the de-criminalisation of illicit drugs, including ice, at a national summit next month.

Their proposal includes the introduction of drug testing at music festivals to stop revellers from taking pills without knowing what is in them, and shifting the view of drug addiction from a criminal activity to a health problem.

The pair outlined the proposal during a visit to the Gold Coast yesterday, the Courier Mail reported.

Previously, Mr Di Natale has urged to Australia to adopt the Portuguese government’s approach to drug addiction, which treats the scourge of drugs as a public health issue.

“Individuals who get into trouble with their drug use wouldn’t be subject to criminal penalties – instead, they would front a health panel which gets them into treatment and helps them with other things, like housing and employment support,” he said in July last year.