In NSW, too many people are being funnelled into the court system for personal drug use, instead of being offered support.
The Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI) was meant to help change that by giving police a way to divert people away from court and toward a health response. But right now, the scheme is too limited and too inconsistent.
Many people who could benefit from diversion are still missing out because of strict eligibility rules, the two-strike limit, and poor implementation of the scheme.
To keep the people we love safe, this needs to change.
Sign, Send and Support this change today!
Email NSW Police Minister, Yasmin Catley today using our ready-to-send template to ask for her support.
Tips for writing your letter
- Personalise your letter – your story is powerful. If you have one to share, do so.
- Lead with your values – why does this campaign matter to you and the people you love?
- Get local – talk about your community! Demonstrating a cross-section of support from all corners of the state will be particularly influential for shifting decision-makers.
Want more information? Read our EDDI FAQs below.
FAQs about the Early Drug Diversion Initiative
What is the Early Drug Diversion Initiative?
The Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI) is a NSW scheme intended to keep people out of the criminal justice system, reduce harm and stigma, and connect them with health-based support instead.
EDDI allows police to divert eligible adults away from charges for simple drug possession and instead issue a diversion notice. This notice gives you the option to complete a short health focused intervention, or pay a fine, rather than go to court.
Who is eligible for EDDI?
You may be eligible for EDDI if:
- You are 18 years or older
- Police are dealing with you for a summary offence (i.e, a less serious criminal offence).
- The matter relates to possession of a small quantity of drugs for personal use, this means:
- 0.75 grams of MDMA in a tablet
- 0.25 grams of MDMA in other forms
- 1 gram of cocaine
- 1 gram of methylamphetamines
- 1 gram of heroin
Who is not eligible for EDDI?
- A person found with more than one type of drug that is against the law. This drug does not include marijuana.
- Persons who have ever committed a serious drug offence (i.e trafficking charges, production charges)
- If you have used the EDDI scheme twice already.
- If you are under 18, a different diversion scheme applies to you.
What happens when someone is offered EDDI?
If police decide to use EDDI, they can issue you with a diversion notice instead of a charge.
That notice gives you the option to:
- Complete a brief drug and alcohol intervention via telehealth, or
- Pay a $400 fine.
You will be given clear instructions and a timeframe to complete the requirement.
You can learn more about the drug and alcohol intervention at St Vincents Hospital Website.
You can choose not to accept the diversion, but this may mean the matter proceeds through the criminal justice system.
Where is EDDI falling short?
While EDDI was introduced with the right intentions, the way it operates in practice has shown some serious gaps. This includes:
- The issue of police discretion creating space for conscious or unconscious bias in who is offered the scheme- this particularly affects First nations people, unhoused people, and people with prior contact with police.
- A limited awareness from both police and community of the scheme
- The restrictive eligibility criteria that means people who would most benefit from a health response miss out
What could a better EDDI scheme look like?
A fairer, more effective version of the scheme would be health lead, consultative with the community and sector, consistent, and accessible. That would mean:
- Removal or restriction of police discretion to make diversion as the default, not the exception for personal possession charges.
- Amending eligibility criteria to allow for more people to be diverted using the scheme (i.e those found with multiple drugs, those with previous charges, etc)
- Transparency from police on diversion rates.
- More diversity of intervention options that people can complete in ways that fit around their lives.
What changes to EDDI are Fair Treatment advocating for?
Consistency as a movement is important. When decision makers here from diverse organisations are calling for similar solutions, they are more likely to act. Here is what we are calling for:
- Make diversion the default.
- Remove concurrent offenses from the eligibility criteria
- Abolish the strike system
- Lower the fine
- Ensure consistent, state-wide application of the scheme
Learn More About Drug Diversion in Australia
Drug Policy Modelling Program- How is the Early Drug Diversion Initiative going?
