The City of Melbourne recognises the importance of addressing issues relating to both legal and illicit drug use and is working to minimise the social, economic and health-related harms associated with problem drug and alcohol use for individuals and the wider community.
The City of Melbourne Strategy for a Safer City 2007-2010 addresses safety and responses to drug and alcohol issues. The City of Melbourne values the support and commitment of services providers and community groups in carrying out this strategy.
For more information about the strategy and individual action plans visit Strategy for a Safer City.
Overdose response and prevention
If you encounter someone who is overdosing, call an ambulance on 000 immediately. Do not delay because you think you or the person overdosing might get in trouble. Ambulance officers are not obliged to involve the police. Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives.
If you are not sure if someone is overdosing or merely sleeping, please check. It never hurts to check and your small gesture of kindness could save a life.
For more information on overdose prevention visit the Victorian Government's Heroin overdose prevention campaign.
Needle and syringe programs are an important harm reduction initiative to reduce the health implications of injection-based drug use on individuals and the wider community.
Harm reduction
Harm reduction is the key principal underlying the City of Melbourne’s Drug and Alcohol Plan and Syringe Management Plan. For more information visit Strategy for a Safer City.
Most people consume drugs of some sort, whether it be legal drugs, prescription drugs or illegal drugs. Although much of the drug use in our communities does not cause problems, some drug use can have extremely negative effects on individuals, families and the wider community.
Harm reduction is about treating problematic drug use as a public health, rather than a criminal justice issue. It aims to maximise the health and wellbeing of individuals, their families and the community as a whole.
Needle and syringe programs
Needle and syringe programs are crucial in reducing the spread of blood-borne viruses, such as Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS, among injecting drug users and the wider community. They do so by providing free access to new sterile needles and syringes along with a range of other services.
For more information on the public health benefits of needle and syringe programs, the Australian Government has produced a Needle and Syringe Program Information Kit, visit Anex.
Foot Patrol Needle and Syringe Program
Foot Patrol is a street-based needle and syringe program located in Melbourne’s central business district. It provides clients with free access to new sterile needles and syringes, along with a range of other services.
For more information visit Youth Projects Ltd.
Other needle and syringe programs
To find a Needle and Syringe Program near you, contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236.