New Drugs Misuse Amendment Act 2000 example essay topic

Australia is a country that does not like to come second best in their sport. With our World Champion status in popular sports such as Rugby League, Rugby Union, Netball, Swimming and of coarse swimming we can see why we demand perfection. On the twentieth anniversary of the famous Americas Cup win it is ironic how the ever improving Australians are now involved in strict drug testing to keep these inspirational moments inspirational and not tag us as cheats. To do this the government has brought in the new Drugs Misuse Amendment Act 2000 (Qld) aimed at reducing the so called 'cheats'. As always Australia's success in sport has had a negative by-product with athletes now doing what ever it takes to get the edge over their opponents.

So what happens to these athletes? Well the legislation has been burred by the common public but the new and improved Amendment sets clear boundaries and penalties for overstepping these boundaries. In the current community there seems to be a fair degree of frustration of the fact that anabolic steroids are now classed as a dangerous drug under the Drugs Misuse Act, and thus unlawfully possessing or supplying these drugs is a criminal offence. The Drugs Misuse Amendment Act 2000 (Qld) began in Queensland on the 27th of July 2000.

The Act comprehensively changes the law controlling the misuse of anabolic and androgenic steroids. Other fairly well known drugs also included in the amendment are the stimulant ephedrine, and the common sleeping pill, flunitrazepam, more known as Rohypnol and its strong effect on rapid drowsiness. In the past the penalties for the unlawful possession, sale and supply of steroids and other performance and image enhancing drugs were contained in the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulations. Under those regulations, the maximum penalty was limited to a maximum fine of $4,500, with no prison sentence provided for. The monetary penalty was the lowest penalty of any Australian state. The amendments to the Drugs Misuse Act create a new strengthened framework where steroids are now regulated in the same way as other drugs in the Act.

The new drugs included in the Drugs Misuse Act can be found in Schedule 2 A which is a long list but concludes with the catch all provision, .".. any other anabolic and androgenic steroidal agent". (web) Many of the drugs listed are still available legally to the common public by way of a prescription from a medical practitioner. To that extent, the prescribing of the drug by a medical practitioner remains perfectly legal. However, any user, lawfully supplied with the drug, who then supplies it to another person, will commit the offence of supplying a dangerous drug. Certainly the new penalties for steroids are significantly lower than the penalties awarded by the pre-existing drugs Act in the schedules of dangerous drugs. Even so, a penalty of up to five years imprisonment may now be imposed upon persons convicted of unlawfully trafficking, supplying or producing steroids, and upon persons convicted of receiving or possessing property obtained from those activities. Furthermore, a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment may be imposed against a person convicted of the unlawful possession of steroids, or convicted of ancillary offences which is permitting a place to be used for the purpose of a crime associated with steroids.

So with the jurisdiction now fundamentally set, we can now look at the social issues that have developed through performance enhancing drugs being used. After recent surveys 77% of the public have understandably reacted badly to those athletes caught using substances that may enhance their performance in some way. But that leaves staggering remaining 23% citizens believing the athletes have been harshly dealt with in regards to what chemicals they can have in their body. That figure may not seem high at first glance but when put into account that nearly four million people in Australia believe it. Its numbers like these that really do make us wonder how many athletes are escaping the system. Also, 83% of Australia agree with the new jurisdiction and say that steroids should be classed as equal with other illegal substances.

These figures show that the Amendment will somewhat be welcomed in the public. This leaves confessed drug addicts such as Soccer oo goalkeeper Mark Bos nich great more difficulty trying to balance up his problems and be successful at a professional level. With regards to Australia's proud sporting history to protect, the new jurisdiction should clear up the problem that so many sport lovers ponder. During my research in this matter, I found it very difficult to find out current Queensland standings in this area of Sport Law.

Perhaps this is the reason so many people ponder the questions. But all it is, is a simple understanding that anabolic steroids for athletes are of equal quality to those of the more common substances used by stereotyped drug addicts. With the Act becoming more known to the public, Australia should no longer fear that Australia's fair sporting tradition will be blackened. Actual Drugs Misuse Amendment Act 2000 (Qld) web Sydney Morning Herald 26/04/2000 Sunday Telegraph 09/03/2003 Courier Mail 08/03/2003 AOC Drug Testing Scheme web SBS Television Program 'Genetically Modified Athletes'.