The House of Representatives has re-referred a lapsed inquiry into alcohol and drug-related harm, with a focus on the experiences of GPs.
The re-establishment of a national governing body to oversee alcohol and other drug strategies is potentially on the table once more, with the lower house re-referring an inquiry into substance use.
Originally commenced in August 2024, the inquiry sought to reflect on the efficacy of the National Drug Strategy 2017-2026 and the National Alcohol Strategy 2019-2028.
In an issues paper published in March, the standing committee on health, aged care and sport conceded that – though several public and private meetings were held – there was not enough time to meet with all stakeholders and provide a final report before the May election.
The pre-election dissolution of parliament effectively dissolved the standing committee.
On Friday, the reconvened committee announced the re-referral of the inquiry, noting that it would be exploring a “number of additional areas”, as well as “the experiences of GPs and hospital staff in treating those seeking help with addiction, and the work of the not-for-profit sector in delivering programs and initiatives to address related harms”.
Dr Marguerite Tracy, deputy chair of the RACGP’s addiction special interest group, told The Medical Republic that it was fantastic that the efforts of GPs in the addiction space were being acknowledged.
“GPs see the full spectrum of the harms of substance use, from simple things where people are possibly using a bit more than they want to be using, to where it’s creating harms or hazards even for them or they’ve got a substance use disorder,” she said.
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“We see the full spectrum of that in general practice, and we want people to have effective, available and affordable treatment, which is what came out of the New South Wales drug summit report.”
To support quality care, Dr Tracy said it was essential to have adequate funding.
“These can often be quite complex consultations,” she said.
“And adequate funding for these longer and complex consultations is useful, [as is] really clear referral pathways.”
Dr Tracy also called for investment in harm reduction initiatives like take-home naloxone, pill testing and safe injecting spaces.
The inquiry issues paper released before the government shutdown period in March said the current National Drug Strategy was generally viewed in positive terms, but that multiple alcohol and other drug sector representatives had called for the re-establishment of a national governing body to oversee the implementation of the next strategy.
It also found that funding had traditionally been weighted toward law enforcement efforts aimed at reducing supply, rather than a health-led policy approach.
GPs, emergency department staff and pharmacists were all identified as key professionals preventing and minimising alcohol and other drug-related harm despite not necessarily working in addiction medicine.
