I thought I was heading straight to court for my drug use, I had no idea a health pathway even existed.
Anonymous
When the police found a small number of drugs on me, my world instantly shrank.
My heart hit my shoes. Fear took over, followed immediately by a heavy, suffocating wave of shame. I stood there mentally calculating the fallout: a court date, a conviction on my permanent record, the impact on my job, and the crushing feeling that I had let down the people who love me. I assumed the machinery of the legal system was about to grind me up, because that’s the story, we’ve all been told for decades.
What I didn’t know and what I suspect most people in NSW still don’t know, is that I was eligible for health support instead of a courtroom.
Like a lot of government policy, it’s hidden behind a chunky acronym: EDDI, short for the Early Drug Diversion Initiative. It came into effect in NSW over two years ago, but unless you work in the justice system or healthcare, almost no one knows what it means for a person standing on the street in a moment of crisis.
When I was offered the chance to talk to a health professional instead of facing a magistrate, the sense of relief was overwhelming. It completely changed the dynamic. Instead of feeling judged, punished, or isolated like a criminal, I found myself in a confidential conversation talking about my current circumstances, my stress, and my health. It was the first time someone outside my circle had asked me about my health, rather than just telling me I was in trouble.
That was probably the first open and honest conversation I’d ever had about my drug use and allowed me to ask questions I’d been too afraid to ask before. The impact of that health-based chat which was completely free of judgment was quite profound. The feeling that I no longer need to hide has lifted a burden that I didn’t realise was slowly wearing me down.
I am not yet brave enough to put my name to this story. The stigma around drug and alcohol dependency remains deeply ingrained in our culture, and the fear of judgment is very real. But I felt a profound responsibility to share what I learned, because every single person in NSW deserves to know their rights if they ever find themselves in the position I was in.
So, let me break down how EDDI works:
If you are found in NSW with a small quantity of an illicit drug for personal use, you don’t automatically have to go to court. You may be issued an EDDI notice, which technically starts as a $400 fine (a Criminal Infringement Notice).
From there, you have two distinct options to resolve it:
Option A: Pay the fine. You pay $400, and the matter is finalised. No court appearance, no criminal record.
Option B: The Health Intervention. You book and complete a free, confidential 60-minute telehealth appointment with a dedicated health professional (run through St Vincent’s Health Network).
Once you complete that single phone call, the health team notifies Revenue NSW, and your $400 fine is waived entirely. Zero dollars owed, no court, and no criminal record.
Health led care shouldn’t be a secret, and it certainly shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for those who know how to navigate systems. It should be the absolute standard for everyone in our state.
If you ever find yourself or a loved one in this situation, remember that you have the right to ask:
“Am I eligible for a fine under the Early Drug Diversion Initiative instead of a court notice?”
Knowing your rights can be the difference between facing a judge or getting the health support you deserve. Please share this so we can keep the people we love safe.
Health led care shouldn’t be a secret, and it certainly shouldn’t be a privilege reserved for those who know how to navigate systems. It should be the absolute standard for everyone in our state.
If you ever find yourself or a loved one in this situation, remember that you have the right to ask:
“Am I eligible for a fine under the Early Drug Diversion Initiative instead of a court notice?”
Knowing your rights can be the difference between facing a judge or getting the health support you deserve. Please share this so we can keep the people we love safe.
Right now, EDDI’s restrictive criteria mean that less than 23% of people found in possession of drugs for personal use can access a health pathway. Today, I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Uniting NSW.ACT and their ‘Fair Treatment’ campaign, a passionate coalition of social justice advocates, health experts, and people with lived and living experience. Together, we are advocating to make EDDI more accessible so more people can receive the health response I did.
You can join us right now by using our email template HERE and write to the NSW government about why you support equal access to care and support, rather than punishment.
