Legally Harmful
Odyssey House CEO Fiona Trevelyan Highlights the Economic Realities of New Zealand’s Most Harmful Legal High
When we think of harmful addictions, the spotlight often falls on illegal drugs—attention-grabbing, headline-making substances that dominate the news. But the real damage is coming from a legal substance—alcohol. It’s New Zealand’s most harmful legal high, and it wreaks havoc on health, families, and communities. Often quietly.
In 2023 alone, alcohol-related harm cost New Zealand a staggering $9.1 billion. Compare that to the $1.29 billion the government earned in excise tax. While alcohol generates substantial revenue for the government, the costs of healthcare, road accidents, and lost productivity from alcohol misuse continue to outweigh these earnings. The math doesn’t lie—the social and economic fallout from alcohol is massive.
Odyssey House CEO Fiona Trevelyan is sounding the alarm. As alcohol reform looms in 2024, she argues that now is the time to balance the scales. Alcohol generates revenue—but at what cost? For Trevelyan, the solution is clear: funnel that revenue into prevention, harm reduction, and community-driven support.
Her recommendations are sharp and targeted:
Invest in prevention and education: We need an evidence-based approach that doesn’t just inform but changes behaviours.
Support harm minimisation: Community-based harm reduction initiatives could make a real impact where it’s needed most.
Focus on those hit hardest: Tailor resources to the groups suffering the most rather than a blanket solution.
Trevelyan wants systemic change, starting with educating the public on the full spectrum of alcohol use—from casual drinking to full-blown dependency. A one-size-fits-all solution won’t address the complex nature of alcohol-related harm. Addiction is complex, and the response must be just as nuanced, with funding that actually meets the needs of those most affected.
The time for change is now—before the cost gets even higher.
