Three decades on, stigma remains 'huge barrier' to care for drug users

Three decades after the implementation of drug decriminalization policies in the Australian Capital Territory, advocates report that societal stigma continues to present a major barrier to healthcare access for drug users. Despite the jurisdiction being the first in Australia to decriminalize certain drug use, preventable overdose deaths persist.

According to advocates, this ongoing public health challenge is driven in part by prevailing social narratives that marginalize and "other" individuals who use drugs, hindering their willingness and ability to seek necessary medical care and support.