Drug diversion program expansion

Last week the Queensland parliament passed laws which will see an expansion of the successful Police Drug Diversion Program.

Over the past 20 years the current program has diverted over 158,000 people, who rather than facing court for their first minor drugs offence, they attended a drug diversion program receiving education and rehabilitation pathways.

About 72% of people attending these programs committed no further drugs offences.

Police drug diversion program here in Queensland and other jurisdictions have been shown to be effective in dealing with minor drug possession.

The news laws will see additional dangerous drugs added to the diversionary program eligibility.

This approach sees drug addiction primarily as a health matter rather than a criminal one and provides people with access to health services in the first instance.

Everyone, particularly young people, are prone to making poor decisions, so providing opportunities to learn and correct behaviour rather than take up police time, court time, and end up with criminal convictions which impacts job opportunities provides better outcomes for everyone.

We know getting more people access to a health diversionary options will help out communities be healthier and safer.

These reforms have been backed by the Australian Medical Association of Queensland and by the current as well as all former Queensland Police Service Commissioners.

It is important to note that expanding the drug diversion program to other drugs does not decriminalise the possession of illegal drugs.

Police will still have powers to search and investigate drug offences, it simply provides alternate pathways in dealing with people caught in possession of small amounts of illicit drugs.

Anyone found in possession of larger quantities of illicit drugs or that have been involved in other offences in connection with the drugs will not be eligible for this program and will go through the formal court processes.

The penalty for trafficking drugs has been increased to life imprisonment, commensurate with the misery that those who deal in drugs inflict on our community.