Overdose deaths rise as Drug Summit funding stalls
Uniting NSW.ACT has criticised the NSW Budget for missing key Drug Summit reforms as Australia records its highest-ever number of overdose deaths. On Support Don’t Punish Day 2026, the group called for drug policy based on health, compassion and human rights.
“This is the day when Uniting NSW.ACT joins with organisations from around the world to challenge stigma and injustice, and to push for laws, policies and practices that support health outcomes instead of punishment,” said Alex Hogan, Uniting NSW.ACT’s Senior Social Justice Lead.
The Penington Institute’s latest Annual Overdose Report found overdose deaths have reached their highest level on record. It found seven Australians are dying every day from overdose.
“Yet this year’s NSW Budget has no new funding for alcohol and other drug treatment services, no investment to strengthen the Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI), and no funding for drug checking services,” Hogan said.
Diversion rates compared
Recent evidence shows a wide gap between the ACT and NSW. The ACT’s two-year evaluation of drug decriminalisation found around 70% of people found with drugs were diverted away from the criminal justice system and into health and support services.
By comparison, a March 2026 BOCSAR review found NSW’s Early Drug Diversion Initiative fell well short of its purpose. Only 22% of eligible people were offered diversion during the scheme’s first year.
“The NSW Government must urgently legislate and fund the Drug Summit reforms,” Hogan said. “This includes strengthening EDDI so diversion becomes the default response by police – removing the strike system, lowering fines, and other eligibility barriers.”
Hogan also pointed to the ACT model as evidence that reform can work. “The ACT has shown that evidence-based drug law reform works. It diverts people into health care, reducing pressure on courts and law enforcement and saves lives,” she said.
Meanwhile, Uniting’s Fair Treatment campaign will host a webinar on Wednesday 8 July from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. The event will run online via Teams.
The session will examine NSW’s Early Drug Diversion Initiative, lessons from the ACT model and ways to build fairer health-based responses to drug use. Media are welcome to attend.
Uniting NSW.ACT has run the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Kings Cross for 25 years. It has also led the Fair Treatment campaign for fairer drug laws for more than seven years.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 11:45 am
