A federal parliamentary inquiry has made 30 recommendations to reduce alcohol and drug harm in Australia. Several could shape how young people learn about alcohol and drugs, stay safer and find support.

On 14 September 2026, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability released its final report into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia. Committee Chair Dr Mike Freelander said the cost of addiction is measured in the tens of billions of dollars.

The report sets out a roadmap for alcohol and drug policy reform.

Starting early with drug education in schools

The Committee recommends mandatory alcohol and drug education programs in secondary schools. Recent AIHW treatment data shows adolescence is often when alcohol and drug use first surfaces. Evidence-based education can help young people make informed choices before problems take hold.

Staying safer in a changing drug market

A national early warning system for illicit drugs could help young people avoid dangerous substances. The Committee also recommends greater access to the Take Home Naloxone Program, which provides a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Reducing young people’s exposure to alcohol

The report calls for a mandatory alcohol advertising and marketing framework, along with national standards for online alcohol sales and delivery. These could reduce young people’s exposure to alcohol marketing and strengthen safeguards around online sales.

A stronger workforce and fairer access to care

Other recommendations include:

• scaling digital models of care, with increased funding for integrated care
• keeping skilled alcohol and drug workers, including peer workers
• better targeted services for regional areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and other vulnerable Australians

Why these recommendations matter for young people

We welcome the report’s focus on prevention, early intervention and fairer access to care. Together, these recommendations reflect what young people need: youth-specific care that supports education, family, housing and mental health alongside alcohol and drug use, and continues after formal treatment ends.

This is the model behind the programs we fund. Triple Care Farm, owned and operated by Mission Australia, supports young people aged 16 to 24 through residential withdrawal, rehabilitation and aftercare. Youth Network, also delivered by Mission Australia, continues that support as young people return to community life. Families looking for help can start with our guide to finding the right youth drug support program.

Your gift can support programs like Triple Care Farm, so more young people can access the right care at the right time. Donate today or learn more about the programs we fund.

Sources

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability (2026). A Roadmap for Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy Reform in Australia [media release]. Canberra: Parliament of Australia.