Our research helps us include your perspective , and our questions about policy come from young people - for young people.
Solutions Not Stigma Report: Community Voices on Drug Reform
Findings from The 2024 Drug Policy Survey
Our Solutions Not Stigma Report amplifies the perspectives of diverse communities towards drug policy reform, with 23 evidence-based recommendations for government action and wider policy change.
Developed in collaboration with Harm Reduction Australia (HRA) and Family Drug Support (FDS), this report presents findings from the 2024 Drug Policy Survey, where 1,167 people shared their views on harm reduction, decriminalisation, overdose prevention, drug testing, and more. We explored support for reform among communities closely impacted by drug policies, including people who use drugs, families and friends of people who use drugs, young people and students, and professionals. Collectively, we found overwhelming public support for evidence-based reforms that prioritise health, human rights, and social justice over criminalisation and enforcement.
#BeHeardNotHarmed Survey
Our #BeHeardNotHarmed campaign is about young people having a voice in drug policy debates - it’s about being heard, not harmed. We want to push for policy reforms that protect and educate communities to make informed choices through access to meaningful education, and suitable support services designed and delivered by people who understand the realities of drug use.
Our #BeHeardNotHarmed survey captures what is important to the hundreds of young people who participated. The results of this survey have been analysed and detailed in reports by the SSDP Research Circle.
Families, professionals, and young people:
Three national surveys exploring attitudes towards drug policy reforms
In 2021 and 2022, SSDP Australia, Harm Reduction Australia, and Family Drug Support Australia each conducted similar community/membership surveys exploring attitudes towards different policy reforms (see our 2022 Community Survey below). We analysed the findings across the three surveys to highlight similar perspectives and key differences across the three key populations. All three surveys, regardless of the variation in methodologies, showcase the expertise of families, professionals, and young people as communities who are uniquely impacted by drugs and alcohol in various ways. Their insider knowledges gained through lived and living experience hold weight and deserve to be listened to and heard by policymakers and governments.
Families, professionals, and young people report
2022 Community Survey
Hundreds of young people completed our Community Survey in 2022. Gathering so many youth perspectives on drug policy is something pretty unique and special. The SSDP Research Circle been carefully combing through the data and are proud to present these reports of the results.
Future Surveys
If you have an idea for something we should be asking our community about, email hello@ssdp.org.au.
If you want to be kept in the loop about upcoming surveys, and get access to more opportunities to shape our organisation's strategy, please join our survey pool.