Early Drug Diversion Initiative
Learn about the Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI) including eligibility requirements and how to book an appointment.
What is the Early Drug Diversion Initiative
The Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI) is a diversion program that provides on the spot fines and free health support for low-level drug offences. This is instead of going to court.
If you receive a fine for a low-level drug offence, you can:
- pay the $400 fine, or
- speak to a nominated health professional over the phone as another option to resolving your fine.
EDDI is not drug decriminalisation. It is still an offence to possess and use illicit drugs in NSW.
Easy read fact sheet
View an easy read guide about EDDI and how to book an appointment.
Eligibility
You’re eligible for EDDI if:
- you have been issued a fine for a first or second eligible low-level drug offence
- you book a health intervention appointment before the fine notice due date.
Police retain discretion in all cases to charge a person and issue a notice to attend court.
EDDI does not apply to:
- people charged with drug supply, drug importation or drug manufacture offences
- people detected with more than small quantities of illicit drugs
- people detected with more than one type of drug (excluding cannabis)
- people who have already received two fines for EDDI-eligible low-level drug offences
- people with prior convictions for serious drug offences including drug supply, manufacture, or importation
- offences related to cannabis – the enhanced Cannabis Cautioning Scheme will apply when up to 30 grams of cannabis is detected.
- drug driving offences.
Book an appointment
To book an appointment with a nominated health professional from St Vincent's Health Network book online or call.
Alternatively, call 1800 844 881 between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Or find out more about other payment options and managing your fine.
How the health profession will help you
A health professional will talk to you about your drug use and can provide information about:
- the risks of using drugs
- healthy options
- how to get further support to make your own health decisions.
The drug health intervention is:
- free
- confidential – your private health information will not be shared
- is up to 60 minutes long (with the option for a 30-minute follow up call for the second fine only).
Once you have completed the health intervention, St Vincent's Health Network will notify Revenue NSW and your fine will be resolved.
More information about the EDDI drug health intervention is available on the NSW Health website.
Frequently asked questions
Low-level drug offences are personal drug use and small quantity drug possession offences.
For example, a small quantity may include:
- cocaine, up to 1 gram
- methylamphetamines, like ice or speed, up to 1 gram
- MDMA like ecstasy, up to 0.25grams or up to 0.75grams if in tablet form
- heroin up to 1 gram.
Schedule 1 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 sets out quantities of prohibited drugs.
EDDI aims to provide people with low-level drug offences the opportunity to understand the risks associated with their illicit drug use and receive support. It also aims to increase court efficiencies by diverting people with low-level drug offences away from the court system.
No, once a fine has been resolved by payment or completion of the health intervention, it will not appear on your criminal record.
The fine will be enforced by Revenue NSW using the existing fine enforcement framework under the Fines Act 1996.
Other options such as pay by instalment, writing off a fine, or a Work and Development Order will still be available. Find more information about other ways to pay.
The eligibility section explains the rules that apply to EDDI. In all cases, police retain discretion to charge a person and proceed to court.
No. Your private health information will not be shared. If you take part in the health intervention, you will need to consent to the health service provider sharing some information with Revenue NSW. This information is needed to finalise your fine.
Support
Got a question or need help? A range of financial, health and legal supports are available to help you:
- free and confidential financial and legal support
- support paying fines
- alcohol and other drug support
- other diversion and therapeutic programs.
Find out more about EDDI in this media announcement.
Feedback
If you have feedback or a suggestion about:
- the drug health intervention, contact NSW Health
- fines, contact Revenue NSW
- EDDI in general, contact the Department of Communities and Justice.