Reducing stigma for people who use or have used alcohol or other drugs is vital to improving their health and wellbeing. The new Alcohol and Other Drugs Care Charter [PDF] helps all staff deliver safe, accessible, equitable, and non-judgemental healthcare.
The Care Charter is an initiative of a partnership between the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs NSW Ministry of Health, Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA), NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) and the ACI Alcohol and Other Drugs Network. The charter was co-designed by these organisations, ten people who use or have used substances and five clinicians with diverse expertise across maternity, emergency departments, mental health, and drug and alcohol services.
The Alcohol and Other Drugs Care Charter provides a succinct directive to staff of any service on how to care for this group of people and why it matters from the perspective of those receiving care. The Care Charter will mobilise all staff to take action to reduce substance use stigma across the health system by delivering care that is safe, accessible, equitable and non-judgemental. The Charter will support staff to reflect on their work practice, guide services to make changes in their culture, processes and physical environments and help policy makers to break down structures perpetuating stigma.
We welcome all organisations to become a signatory to the AOD Care Charter. Visit the webpage to sign up and for further information and resources.
