National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy 2008-2011
Executive summary
Table of contents
The aim of the ATS Strategy is to:
Reduce the availability and demand for illicit amphetamine-type stimulants and prevent use and harm across the Australian community.
The objectives are to:
- Increase the Australian community’s knowledge about amphetamine-type stimulants and raise awareness of the problems associated with their production and use;
- Prevent the use and supply of illicit amphetamine-type stimulants;
- Prevent and respond to amphetamine-type stimulant-related physical and mental health problems as well as social, familial and financial problems for individuals and the community; and
- Enhance the capacity of organisations and the broad system to respond effectively to people affected by amphetamine-type stimulants.
These are:
Priority Area 1: Community awareness and understanding of amphetamine-type stimulant use and related problems
i. Consolidate the current knowledge of patterns of ATS use and identify awareness of the risks of ATS use among the broad community and high-risk groups
ii. Use social marketing programs and targeted strategies to raise awareness of the risksassociated with ATS use
Priority Area 2: The supply of amphetamine-type stimulants
- Disrupt and dismantle criminal groups involved in the production, trafficking and supply of ATS into and within Australia, including preventing the illicit supply of precursor chemicals and equipment
- Improve intelligence and information-sharing capabilities of Australian law enforcement agencies and related sectors
- Ensure adequate laws are in place to respond to ATS related activities
- Develop an evidence base regarding specific strategies to prevent ATS use
- Address broad determinants of poor health and social outcomes and illicit drug use
- Enhance the capacity of the education sector to implement prevention responses to illicit drug problems in general and ATS problems in particular
- Ensure that quality information is available about the context of ATS use and related adverse consequences
- Ensure that ATS users, and others affected by ATS use, are aware of the problems associated with ATS use and know how to prevent and reduce such problems
- Implement effective brief and opportunistic interventions for ATS related problems for the large proportion of ATS users with lower levels of use and related problems
- Implement effective ATS screening, assessment, management and referral protocols
- Establish an adequate, effective and accessible range of ATS treatment options
- Build on the impact of the Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative (IDDI) to link suitableoffenders to health services, to provide early intervention and avoid the risks of having a criminal record for minor ATS related offences
- Enhance court responses to ATS problems
- Develop and trial strategies to prevent and reduce concurrent ATS intoxication and driving
- Develop and trial strategies to prevent and reduce ATS use in the workplace
- Develop the capacity of the workforce to respond to alcohol and drug problems in general and ATS related problems in particular
- Build capacity to prevent supply and use of ATS
- Develop the capacity of the workforce to address ATS problems
- Build clinical research capacity to respond to ATS related problems
- Build capacity to respond to the needs of families and children affected by ATS problems
- Improve partnerships between drug and alcohol and mental health sectors
- Improve understanding among law enforcement and court personnel about ATS use and problems and related interventions, treatments and other supports for ATS users
- Improve the national response to seized clandestine laboratories and handling precursor chemicals to prevent harms
- Ensure capacity building involves key stakeholders
