Australia has lost a mighty leader, a compassionate warrior, and a true servant of the community. Major Brian Watters, immediate past President of Drug Free Australia, has left us with a legacy that speaks not in rhetoric, but in lives saved and families made whole.

A Legacy Written in Lives Saved

The numbers tell a story that mere words struggle to capture. During his tenure as Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs under the John Howard Federal Government, Brian oversaw Australia’s “Tough on Drugs” policy from 1998 to 2007. In those years, opiate overdose deaths plummeted from 1,116 in 1999 to around 360 by 2001, remaining at that life-saving level through 2007. That represents a minimum of 5,400 Australian lives saved from opiate overdose alone, not counting the thousands more spared from other illicit substances.

The Evidence of Impact

During Brian’s leadership, the evidence was undeniable. Opiate deaths dropped dramatically, but the story doesn’t end there. Deaths from other illicit drugs (alcohol, amphetamines, antidepressants, antiepileptic and anti-Parkinson drugs, antipsychotics and neuroleptics, cannabinoids, cocaine, and non-opioid analgesics) all showed the same pattern of sharp decrease during the “Tough on Drugs” years. Countless families were spared the grief of losing a loved one to overdose.

Then, from 2007 onward, harm became ascendant again. Once the policy was set aside, deaths from all drug types began their tragic climb upward. The contrast between the two eras could not be more clear or more heartbreaking. That divergence represents the tangible difference that Brian Watters made to this nation.

Behind every statistic was a son or daughter who came home, a parent who didn’t receive that devastating phone call, a family that stayed intact. This was Brian’s gift to Australia: not just policy, but preserved futures and prevented grief.

A Life Dedicated to Service

Brian’s journey began with more than 23 years as an officer in the Salvation Army, where he commanded addiction treatment facilities and rehabilitation services with both expertise and heart. As the Salvation Army’s spokesman on substance abuse issues, he brought a unique combination of spiritual compassion and clinical excellence to one of society’s most challenging problems.

His specialist knowledge in addiction treatment wasn’t confined to theory. Brian worked directly with those struggling with substance misuse, understanding their pain, their potential, and their need for genuine pathways to recovery. He served on the boards of major drug prevention organizations including DRUG-ARM Australia, and as past President of the NSW Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies, always bringing his trademark blend of firmness and compassion.

Leadership That Changed a Nation

When Brian was appointed Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs, he brought more than expertise to the role—he brought moral clarity and unwavering commitment. The “Tough on Drugs” strategy he oversaw was Australian leadership at its absolute best: compassionate yet resolute, with a strong emphasis on both drug prevention and rehabilitation.

The official government data reveals the trajectory clearly. Under Brian’s guidance, deaths from all types of illicit drugs decreased sharply, as evidenced by every colored line on the Federal Government Drug Trends graph tracking downward during the “Tough on Drugs” era. Families across the nation were spared unimaginable grief. Young Australians were given second chances. Communities became safer and healthier.

Tragically, when the policy was set aside in 2007, the graph tells another story—one of fast-increasing drug mortality across all types, with harm becoming ascendant again. The visual evidence is undeniable and sobering. The contrast illuminates precisely the difference that Brian Watters made to this nation.

Recognition Well Earned

In 2003, Brian received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community, specifically for his leadership and advocacy in developing strategies to reduce drug and alcohol addiction. It was a recognition richly deserved, though those who knew Brian understood that medals and titles were never his motivation. The work itself, the lives transformed, the families restored—these were his true rewards.

His expertise was sought by government agencies and non-profit organizations alike. He raised public debate, shaped national policies, and established effective treatment centers that combined evidence-based practice with genuine care for human dignity and potential.

A Legacy That Lives On

What made Brian Watters truly exceptional was his refusal to accept that addiction was an unsolvable problem or that society should simply accommodate drug abuse. He believed in prevention, in intervention, in rehabilitation, and most importantly, in people. He believed that every Australian struggling with addiction deserved access to treatment that could genuinely set them free.

His advocacy wasn’t simply about reducing harm. It was about eliminating it where possible, about giving people the tools to reclaim their lives entirely. This vision, grounded in both compassion and evidence, made him a transformative figure in Australian public health.

Today, as we reflect on Brian’s passing, thousands of Australians are alive because of him. They are living full lives, raising families, contributing to their communities. Most will never know his name, but they are breathing testimony to his life’s work.

Farewell to a Warrior

Margaret, Brian’s wonderful wife and partner in this life of service, is planning for the funeral to be held at 140 Elizabeth Street in the Sydney CBD, with a time to be announced for next Friday.

As we gather to honor this remarkable man, we remember not just what he achieved, but who he was: a warrior for community health and safety, a voice for the vulnerable, a beacon of hope for those in darkness, and a servant-leader in the truest sense.

Major Brian Watters showed us that one person, armed with compassion, expertise, and unshakeable conviction, can save thousands of lives and change the trajectory of a nation.

Rest well, Major. Your battle is won, and your legacy endures in every life you saved and every family you kept whole.

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To all preventionists, to everyone who fights for community health and safety, Brian Watters showed us the way. May we carry his torch forward with the same courage and compassion he brought to every day of his remarkable life.