The provision of more medically supervised injecting clinics and residential rehabilitation programs for all people leaving custody, the expansion of the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program across NSW and the decriminalisation of the personal use of ice and other drugs, as well as a focus on services for Aboriginal communities are among a raft of recommendations made by the Special Commission of Inquiry into crystal methamphetamine and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS).
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The NSW government released the four-volume report on Thursday, a month after the ice inquiry's findings were delivered by Commissioner Professor Dan Howard SC.
A total of 109 recommendations were made by Professor Howard to address the "paradigm shift" that he believes is required to "tackle the ATS problem successfully".
"It is important that our policies position us to minimise, as far as possible, the harms that illicit drugs might cause to future generations," he said in the report.
"The evidence before the inquiry demonstrates that a different and more nuanced response than criminal prosecution is called for in relation to the offences of use, and possession for personal use, of ATS and other illicit drugs. A determined whole-of-government approach to effective public health messaging, improved harm reduction measures, education, research and properly resourced treatment pathways will achieve far better outcomes for people who use and possess these drugs, and for society as a whole."
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the government would not support five of the inquiry's key recommendations - more medically supervised injecting centres; state-wide clinically supervised substance testing; ceasing the use of drug detection dogs at music festivals; and a prison needle and syringe program.
Mr Hazzard said the government will "consider" the remaining recommendations, in consultation with stakeholders.
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"The government wishes to acknowledge all those with lived experience, their families and friends, along with the broad range of experts, health practitioners and service providers who contributed to the Special Commission," he said.
The report is the culmination of a year of hearings from experts and people affected by ice across NSW, including Moree.
The inquiry held two days of hearings in Moree in August, focussing on the impacts on children and young people and Indigenous communities, as well as access to treatment and support services in the region.