Oceania

Publications1 October 2026

Australia's annual overdose report 2026

The Penington Institute describes Australia's record drug-induced deaths as the result of policy failure that has left harm reduction underfunded, and calls for a balanced approach that responds to complex and emerging harms.

News15 January 2026

Maldives: Parliament approves death penalty for major drug trafficking cases

Maldives’ parliament has unanimously approved a landmark amendment allowing the death penalty for major drug trafficking cases.

Publications14 October 2025

Safer drug laws for Aotearoa New Zealand - Pragmatic, evidence-based recommendations for safer drug laws

The New Zealand Drug Foundation urges reform of outdated drug laws, calling for decriminalisation, Māori-led health approaches and investment in harm reduction to build safer, fairer, evidence-based policies for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Events

19th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) 2026 Conference

Perth, Australia

7 October 2025 - 2 July 2025

The ISSDP 2026 conference is set to take place from June 30 to July 2 in Perth, Australia and its call for abstracts is open until November 30, 2025.

Publications10 July 2025

Is drug-use stigma a breach of human rights law?: Insights from Australia

Mulcahy et al. explore whether stigma constitutes cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, outlining possibilities for viable legal claims on the basis of human rights.

Events

You can't say that: Women and nonbinary people who use drugs should be included in feminism

Online

10 April 2025

The event will reflect on the historical exclusion of women and nonbinary people who use drugs from traditional feminist spaces and advocacy, and alternative and inclusive approaches through the prism of 'narcofeminism'.

Events

Drugs and decriminalisation in Asia: Global updates on drug decriminalisation

Online

28 February 2025

This webinar aims to present updates on developments in decriminalisation around the world, the backlash in Oregon (US), British Columbia (Canada) and Porto (Portugal), and to discuss their impacts on drug policy and advocacy in Asia.

News10 February 2025

Australia: Canberra cultivators mainly grow 'mild and modest' cannabis, study finds

While the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) decriminalised cannabis cultivation, restrictions on seeds and possession limits mean most growers unintentionally break the law.

Publications1 December 2024

'No penalties. No arrests. No jails': Perspectives on drug decriminalisation among people who inject drugs in Sydney

Dertadian and Sentas examine community members' drug policy preferences, noting widespread support for non-punitive responses, yet skepticism regarding politicians' capacity to effect change.

Events

Health and human rights summit: Advancing the wellbeing of people who use drugs

Adelaide, Australia

10 December 2024 - 11 December 2024

On 11th December in Adelaide, the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) host an open forum event centring the health and human rights of people who use drugs.

News7 November 2024

It's been 12 months since small amounts of illicit drugs were decriminalised in the Australian Capital Territory

Despite initial reservations, rates of drug use have remained similar while access to harm reduction services has increased.

News16 October 2024

Australia: ‘People are dying’: Rise of nitazenes should be treated as pandemic, injecting centre head says

In light of the grave threats posed by nitazenes in Australia, experts call for political support and scaling-up of drug checking services to reduce fatalities.

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