Weaving alcohol and drug policy into the fabric of social policy

This paper will demonstrate that alcohol and drug policy has been largely overlooked in the development of social policy by major peak organisations such as ACOSS and the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence. As a consequence policies on social issues such as homelessness, poverty, domestic violence and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander problems have either considered alcohol and drugs as a separate social issue or failed to recognise the impact and significance of alcohol and drugs on social issues. The paper will argue that this deficiency in social policies will need to be addressed by more proactive involvement of alcohol and drug policy makers in the development of social policy by major peak bodies.