Current approaches are not working, so its time to step back from the emotional debate and work to implement programs that will effectively tackle the problems associated with legal and illegal drugs. Tobacco and alcohol are the drugs that cause greatest harm and the most number of deaths and the Greens policy focuses on ways to reduce their consumption and discourage their use. Illicit drug use also costs us dearly. The Greens approach is to save lives and improve the health of illicit drug users. We need to act now to reduce the deaths, disease, crime and corruption resulting from drug use. Dr Richard Di Natale is the Greens Drugs Policy spokesperson.

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