Australian National Council on Drugs
Encyclopedia
The Australian National Council on Drugs describes itself as "the principal advisory body to Government
on drug policy
and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug
related policies and strategies." The Council occupies a unique position by virtue of its role in enhancing the partnership between government and the community. It has pivotal advisory, advocacy
and representative functions, with a significant role to provide government Ministers with independent, expert advice on matters related to licit
and illicit drugs
.
In 1998, the Prime Minister
established the ANCD as part of the Commonwealth Government’s response to reduce the harm caused by drugs in our community.
It is chaired by Dr John Herron
.
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
on drug policy
Drug policy
A drug policy most often refers to a government's attempt to combat the negative effects of drug addiction and misuse in its society. Governments try to combat drug addiction with policies which address both the demand and supply of drugs, as well as policies which can mitigate the harms of drug...
and plays a critical role in ensuring the voice of the community is heard in relation to drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
related policies and strategies." The Council occupies a unique position by virtue of its role in enhancing the partnership between government and the community. It has pivotal advisory, advocacy
Advocacy
Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
and representative functions, with a significant role to provide government Ministers with independent, expert advice on matters related to licit
Legal intoxicants
Legal intoxicants are intoxicating drugs which are not prohibited by drug laws. The most commonly used intoxicant is alcohol but many others are used including native intoxicating plants historically used by indigenous cultures and modern chemical intoxicating substances that have not been defined...
and illicit drugs
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
.
In 1998, the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
established the ANCD as part of the Commonwealth Government’s response to reduce the harm caused by drugs in our community.
It is chaired by Dr John Herron
John Herron (Australian politician)
Dr. John Joseph Herron , Australian politician, ambassador and surgeon, was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate from 1 July 1990 to 5 September 2002, representing Queensland. From 2002 to 2006 he was the Australian Ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See.Dr...
.