Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform used their annual remembrance ceremony in Weston Park to praise the prospect of a new federal attitude towards drug use.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty told radio last week that Australia had to find ''a better way'' and move beyond a ''just say no'' approach.

For John, who came close to losing his son to heroin, Mr Keelty's comments were welcome.

''We want to see them move away from law enforcement as a number one priority, and finally Mick Keelty told it as it is,'' John said.

John's son had battled with heroin addiction since the late 1990s, but graduated from a methadone program three weeks ago.

While John describes the methadone program as ''the gold standard'' in addiction management, he acknowledged inherent problems in the system.

''We had difficultly getting my son into the program, because they said he'd have to wait for a week or two [for medical approval]. He nearly killed himself.''

Once in the program, according to John, ''what's needed is good monitoring of the person, treating the person just like a person who attends hospital for any other reason''.

The parliamentary secretary to Health Minister Nicola Roxon, Senator Jan McLucas, told those gathered drug policy was a perennial balancing act.

''There are those who want a zero-tolerance approach ... and those who want to see it decriminalised ... We are trying very hard to get the balance right.''