Navigating the Conversation: How Can the News Media Responsibly Communicate Drug Use to the Australian Community?

News media plays an integral role in facilitating public discourse, influencing attitudes and shaping policy decisions on drugs. Negative, sensationalist or inaccurate media coverage of drugs can lead to negative or stigmatising attitudes towards people who use drugs or who are associated with drugs. This can and should be changed. The national Mindframe guidelines-which support safe and accurate reporting of suicide, mental health and alcohol and other drug use-have resulted in significant reductions in the financial and health cost ($596 million over a 5-year period and 107 quality-adjusted life years gained) associated with suicide in Australia, but are yet to demonstrate similar outcomes for alcohol and other drug use. The upcoming renewal of the Australian National Drug Strategy and ongoing policy discussions across the country represent a key opportunity to address stigma and improve non-judgemental media reporting on drugs. Less than half of national drug strategies globally provide specific actions to address stigma. The new Australian National Drug Strategy has an opportunity to show international leadership by providing clear actions and targets for addressing drug related stigma, including improving the reporting of alcohol and other drugs through greater investment and support in the dissemination, implementation and training of media in guidelines focused on responsible reporting of these issues.