Download Submission in response to the draft South Australian Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy 2024 - 2030
Preventive Health SA is developing the South Australian Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy 2024-2030 with the aim of preventing and reducing the harms caused by alcohol and other drugs in the South Australian community.
You can find the draft Strategy here: https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/83380/widgets/395249/documents/285986
SACOSS’ submission highlights the importance of expanding the focus on the social determinants of health to also include cultural and commercial determinants of health – particularly in relation to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s cultural knowledges and practices; and the effects of the commercial vested interests of alcohol companies and their lobbyists. Regarding the latter, we call for options to be explored and decisive action to be taken to regulate alcohol promotion, and ensuring that provisions regarding take-away and online alcohol sales are incorporated into the Liquor Licencing Act 1997 and associated Regulations. As part of reviewing online liquor sales and delivery regulations, specific attention must be given to reducing the risk of domestic and family violence.
We emphasised the connection between accessing AOD treatment and the threat of the involvement of child protection services – there are too many examples of people not accessing treatment or support out of fear of having their children removed and placed in out of home care.
Our submission encourages a move away from the individualisation of responsibilities and towards effecting structural reforms – much of the Strategy’s focus on health promotion and prevention is weighted towards individual behavioural change and health literacy, with less attention given to specific and concrete reforms that will challenge problematic causal enablers at a structural and systemic level.
Our submission also focuses on early and targeted interventions, the recognition of the need for treatment and support, and the importance of including and involving people in the development, implementation and monitoring of the Strategy who have lived experience of AOD – either due to substance use themselves or being affected by those around them. This will include establishing community-based peer support groups and harm-reduction networks, as well as establishing an independent representative body for people who use alcohol and other drugs – noting that, with the exception of the Northern Territory, a representative service exists in every other jurisdiction in Australia.