Reason Leader Fiona Patten MP is supporting the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) in the wake of controversy over the league’s illicit drug policy.
This week, ex-St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt told SEN Radio that drug use within the AFL was “out of control” and that players should be suspended after one positive test to illicit drugs, in what he thought would be a more effective deterrent.
Ms Patten implores the AFL to continue to listen to evidence and treat illicit drug use as a health issue, not a criminal one, and to not go down the suggested path by Riewoldt.
“Naming and shaming will not lead to better health outcomes. I would be very surprised if ex-players and club presidents had a better knowledge of managing player welfare than the experienced and respected club doctors,” she said.
“Mental health is one of the biggest issues among AFL players and young people generally. AFL players are constantly in the spotlight and their anxiety and stress levels are higher than the average population.
“Do we really think suspending a player for a month and dragging their name through the press will help resolve their issues? A change in the policy could lead to disastrous consequences.”
Ms Patten said that Victoria could learn a lot from the current AFL drug policy.
“We see every day the dire results from treating drug use as a criminal issue and not a health issue. Locking people up, treating them like criminals does not solve drug use and does not get them into much needed treatment. It puts people into a downward spiral,” she said.
Ms Patten led the Victorian Government’s inquiry into drug law reform last term. A key recommendation of the cross-party report was to decriminalise possession and follow a similar policy to the Portugal model.
Ms Patten urges the Government to adopt the recommendation this term.
“But, Gold Coast probably have a better chance of winning the flag,” she added.
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Media Contact: Kaitlin Bartlett
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