11 Sep 2007

The AFLPA welcomes the letter of support for the AFL Illicit Drug's Policy published in a number of newspapers today.

The letter, titled "Time for sense: drugs in sport" was collated, written and signed off by a collection of twenty one eminent experts in the fields of medicine, drug dependence and law enforcement, and applauds the AFL and AFL Players' Association for efforts it tackling this issue.

In the letter, experts praised the AFL and AFL Players' Association for agreeing to an evidence based policy which is in line with current community practices towards people found using illicit drugs and congratulated the AFL industry for its " reasoned, sensible and strong leadership stance to these issues."

The letter also states that, "Rather than being criticised, the AFL should be applauded by governments, community leaders and the media for their approach. For those of us at the coalface of treating drug addiction and developing policy, watching this criticism is frustrating. We congratulate the AFL and AFL Players' Association and encourage and support them in retention of the AFL Illicit Drug Policy."

The twenty one experts to have signed the open letter.

Associate Professor Robert Ali

Chair Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Sam Biondo

Executive Officer, Victorian Drug & Alcohol Association

Donna Bull

former CEO Alcohol & other Drugs Council of Australia; specialist Technical Advisor on AOD matters for the Australian Defence Force and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Professor Nick Crofts

Director, Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre

Professor Jon Currie

Professor of Addiction Medicine, St Vincents Hospital, Melbourne

Associate Professor John Fitzgerald

Principal Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

Professor Wayne Hill

University of Queensland School of Population Health, Vice-President, Alcohol & other Drugs Council of Australia

Professor Margaret Hamilton

AO, University of Melbourne

Dr Ian Kronborg, Director

Drug & Alcohol Services , Western Health (DASWest)

Dr Bruce Mitchell

President, Sports Medicine Australia

Professor Rob Moodie

Professor of Global Health, The Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne

David Murray

Executive Director, Youth Substance Abuse Services

The Hon Alastair Nicholson

AO RFD QC, National Patron, Australian Drug Foundation; Honorary Professional Research Fellow, Department of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology, University of Melbourne

Professor David Pennington

AO, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Melbourne

Professor Robert Power

Director, Centre for Harm Reduction, Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health

Professor Robin Room

Chair if Social Alcohol Research, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne; Director, AER Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre

Daryl Smeaton

CEO, Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation

Bill Stronach

CEO, Australian Drug Foundation

David Templeman

CEO (acting), Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia

Professor Ian W Webster

AO, Emeritus Professor of Community Medicine and Public Health, University of New South Wales

Professor Steve Wesselingh

Director, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health

Please click on the links below for more information.