We have a massive appetite for the gear but not for the debate. Any rational discussion questioning the war on drugs is immediately shut down — much to the relief of drug dealers.

More than 10 years ago,a group of prominent Australians,including former NSW director of public prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery,QC,and retired Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer,backed a report that found law enforcement wasn’t working.

Thirty-five years ago,former Victorian deputy commissioner Paul Delianis came to the same conclusion. No one apparently listened.

For the established drug dealers,police are their greatest allies. Regular arrests cull the less efficient,and regular seizures ensure the market is not flooded,maintaining prices. Don’t shoot your rivals,just dob them in to the cops.

Despite record seizures,drug users say they are having no problems finding their product of choice,with reports now that Australia runs second only to Belgium for dark web drug traffic.

For there is an iron law of crime:Where there is a demand,there will be supply.

The only way to change community standards is to take the community with you,and it can be done — with a combination of education backed with sanctions.

When we had the AIDS epidemic,we didn’t ban sex but rather invested in education and scare campaigns such as the Grim Reaper.

Here are four of the best campaigns that helped change the way we live.

Drink-driving

In the bad old days,Dad would drink six long-neck beers at a barbecue then pile the kids in the back of the Holden and drive them home,with no one taking a blind bit of notice.

Strong law enforcement combined with advertising campaigns mean such behaviour is generally not acceptable. Peer group disapproval is as strong a deterrent as a Booze Bus.

Thousands of lives have been saved since Victoria’s road toll in 1971 stood at a record 1061.

Environment

In the 1970s,the Yarra River stank,some beaches were unswimmable,we hosed the concrete driveway,briquette heaters were in vogue,most backyards had an incinerator to burn everything from leaves to plastics,and electric cars were restricted to Scalextric model racers. (I had a Cobra. It was ace.)

Now we have recycling,solar panels,irrigation timers and low-power light globes. We are motivated bythe heart and the hip pocket. Climate change is a reality and so are massive rises in power bills. It is as simple as the (free-range) chicken and the (organic) egg.

Sunsmart

A few generations ago,people would lay in the sun for hours glistening like garlic bread,tradies worked bare-chested,sun cream was a combination of coconut oil and butter,and a sun tent was a prop in the movie,Lawrence of Arabia.

Now the only people on the beach unprotected are British backpackers and the bewildered,while kids wear hats and sun tops,and parents are usually found under pop-up protection that requires a degree from NASA to erect.

Smoking

Not that long ago,we had the Marlboro Man,Paul Hogan was the craggy face of Winfield,race teams were fuelled by nicotine ads,and you smoked wherever you wanted. The first time I walked into a newsroom,the editor had the complexion of an adolescent chimney sweep.

In 1980,35 per cent of adults smoked,now it is near to 10 per cent. Smart advertising campaigns,massive price hikes,reduced retail outlets and restricted areas where smoking is permissible have smashed the habit for many.

An Asian prime minister visiting Melbourne once mentioned how well the street workers were dressed. It turned out he was referring to city office workers who had slipped out for a gasper.

I don’t have a view on decriminalising drugs,but I do support putting all ideas on the table.

In 1983,prime minister Bob Hawke held a national crime summit at the old Parliament House involving just about every expert in the land. It resulted in the National Crime Authority.

Two years later,he chaired a state,territory and federal leaders’ meeting that made this commitment:

“To mount a National Campaign Against Drug Abuse in which all governments will co-operate and which will also seek the full involvement and support of the community as a whole.

“The campaign will place a major emphasis on reducing the demand for drugs through education,treatment and rehabilitation programs.”

This resulted in the National Drug Strategy for alcohol,tobacco and illicit drugs that remains in operation today.

Perhaps it is time to revisit this,with a national conference to examine whether we are doing enough and are on the right path. We need a 20-year commitment,signed by premiers,the prime minister and their opposition equivalents,to install a national criminal code and pledge that for every dollar spent on enforcement,one must be spent on rehabilitation and education.

Or just make convicted drug boss Tony Mokbel treasurer. After all,he always delivered a surplus.