Alcohol
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in Australia. Whilst most people drink alcohol in a responsible manner, the social, physical and economic consequences which result from the misuse of alcohol by the minority are high and, importantly, preventable. Consequently, alcohol misuse continues to be a significant burden on society and government requiring agencies, particularly the NSW Police Force, to allocate substantial time and resources to preventing and responding to the problem.
Alcohol and the NSW Police Force response
Drugs
Drugs, both legal and illegal, are a cause of considerable concern across Australian society. Although only a small proportion of people in our community use illicit drugs, the related harms to the person using and to the community are significant. These harms include family and social difficulties, mental health issues, overdose related deaths, transmission of blood borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C, and involvement in drug-related crime.