Alcohol, other drugs and gambling

In November 2024, The Salvation Army provided a response to New South Wales Government Have your say survey for the NSW Drug Summit 2024.

The Salvation Army is a leading provider of alcohol and other drug services in NSW and across Australia. Our frontline services, spanning housing and homelessness, family and domestic violence and youth programs, also play a key role in addressing alcohol and other drug-related harms.

The Salvation Army’s response included the following key recommendations:

• A primarily health, wellbeing and social services approach to address alcohol and other drug-related harms.
• The development of a statewide alcohol and other drug strategy for NSW, to support collaboration across government departments and service sectors, including actions to address the underlying drivers, and co-occurring disadvantage experienced by individuals and diverse groups.
• A statewide scoping review of alcohol and other drug treatment services and increased investment to improve access to diverse, holistic and integrated treatment options across NSW.
• A statewide workforce strategy to address the alcohol and other drug sector’s issues with attracting, training and retaining suitably qualified staff.
• Reform to the criminal justice response to illicit drug use in NSW. For people who use illicit drugs, laws and policies should always be proportionate and compassionate, geared towards preventing and reducing contact with the criminal justice system, and prioritise the provision of immediate linkages to health or social services.

• Learn more about the Inquiry
• Read The Salvation Army Submission