THE PROBLEM
One sentence is holding us back.
Supervised injecting services provide a safer, medically supervised environment for people who inject drugs. They help prevent overdose deaths, connect people with healthcare and provide a pathway to treatment and support.
But NSW law restricts the establishment of these services.
Section 36A of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act is part of the legal framework governing supervised injecting facilities in NSW.
The current legislation creates a significant barrier to opening additional services, even in communities where they could make a difference.
It’s time to change that.
WHY CHANGE MATTERS
More doors. More opportunities to save lives.
Everyone deserves access to healthcare, dignity and support.
Supervised injecting services are an important part of a comprehensive, evidence-based response to drug use.
They provide opportunities to prevent fatal overdoses, reduce the harms associated with injecting drug use and connect people with health and social services.
When access is restricted, those opportunities are restricted too.
Changing Section 36A could help create a future where more NSW communities have access to services that respond to local needs.
THE SOLUTION
One small change. More doors open.
Right now, Section 36A of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 limits NSW to a single licensed medically supervised injecting centre.
That centre is in Kings Cross, Sydney.
The legislation prevents additional centres from being licensed while the existing licence remains in effect.
We’re calling on the NSW Government to remove that restriction.
Changing Section 36A would allow additional medically supervised injecting services to be considered in communities where they’re needed.
It wouldn’t automatically establish new centres. Decisions about individual services would still require appropriate planning, consultation and approval.
But it would remove a significant legal barrier to expanding access.
And that’s a change worth making.
ONE SENTENCE.
ONE LICENCE.
ONE DOOR.
LET’S OPEN MORE.
We know these services work.
For more than 25 years, the medically supervised injecting centre in Kings Cross has provided a safer environment for people who inject drugs.
The service helps prevent fatal overdoses, provides healthcare and connects people with treatment and other support.
The benefits of supervised injecting services extend beyond the people who use them.
They can also reduce public injecting and discarded injecting equipment, contributing to safer and healthier communities.
The evidence has helped inform calls for expanding access to these services, including recommendations from the 2024 NSW Drug Summit.
The opportunity now is to make these services available to more communities.
A MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE
Together, we can make it happen.
Fair Treatment brings together more than 75 organisations working towards a fairer, more compassionate approach to drug use in NSW and the ACT.
We believe everyone deserves dignity, respect and access to evidence-based healthcare.
Changing Section 36A is one practical step towards making that vision a reality.
But meaningful change requires people to speak up.
We need communities across NSW to show their support for better health outcomes and sensible drug policy.
And we’d love you to be part of it.
Help us open more doors.
Changing Section 36A will take people across NSW standing together and making their voices heard.
We’re building a community of supporters who believe everyone deserves access to life-saving healthcare.
Join the campaign and we’ll let you know when your voice can make the biggest difference.
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