Decriminalising public drunkenness: Accountability and monitoring needed in the ongoing and evolving management of public intoxication.
Australia
alcohol
alcohol intoxication management services
public drunkenness
sobering-up centres
Journal
Drug and alcohol review
ISSN: 1465-3362
Titre abrégé: Drug Alcohol Rev
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 9015440
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
02 2021
02 2021
Historique:
received:
17
06
2020
revised:
19
08
2020
accepted:
24
08
2020
pubmed:
26
9
2020
medline:
20
11
2021
entrez:
25
9
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
In light of the recent announcement from the Victorian (Australia) state government that they are moving to decriminalise public drunkenness and replace it with a 'health-based response', it is timely to reflect on a number of important considerations identified from the academic literature on this topic. We briefly review a number of models of health-care delivery that have been utilised in other jurisdictions, and suggest there are opportunities at a more principled level to respond more adequately to the decriminalisation of public drunkenness in Victoria (and elsewhere). First, embedding research and evaluation, particularly that draws on the needs, views and experiences of those who are deemed to be drunk in public, is essential from the outset, and must be ongoing to enable the continual refinement of models of care. Second, significant funding and intersectoral support are needed to ensure that the laws are not tokenistic and do not remain the responsibility of police. Third, there are opportunities to put policies and principles in place to ensure that police do not use more coercive powers to address concerns around public drunkenness. Most importantly, state-wide education and training efforts are needed alongside the repeal of the law to ensure that emergency services and health-care workers (as well as the community), have a good understanding of the contexts and needs of people who are considered drunk in public, and consequently treat them with care and respect.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
205-209Subventions
Organisme : Australian Research Council
ID : DE190101074
Organisme : Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education
Informations de copyright
© 2020 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.
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