Abstract
Effective drug policy should put the health of people at the centre and prioritise reducing the risk of drug harm, provision of timely access to support and accurate information, and eliminating stigma for people worst affected. However, New Zealand’s current legislative framework falls short in these areas, does not achieve these aims, lacks a harm reduction focus, and has failed to prevent a wide range of harms.
Over the past five decades, drug availability has increased and prices have declined. Drug-related harms including substance use disorder, overdose mortality, and criminal justice involvement have increased, with Māori disproportionately affected.
Research indicates widespread consensus among affected communities that current drug laws are not fit for purpose, alongside common experiences of stigma and barriers to accessing healthcare. Evidence shows that health-based approaches to drug policy achieve better outcomes than punitive models. This evidence provides a strong rationale for replacing current legislation with a health-centred framework that prioritises harm reduction and equity, in alignment with te Tiriti o Waitangi.