Youth workers and the NSW opposition want a controversial drug guide for young adults pulped, saying it sends the wrong message by encouraging illicit drug use.
The NSW government's brochure - Drug Safety: Guide to a Better Night - offers tips for safe drug use and advises young adults about finding the illegal substance that suits their personality type.
The government has come under fire for making the pamphlet freely available to young people through outlets such as music retailers, clubs, libraries and universities.
Some youth workers say the state has surrendered in the war against drugs.
But NSW Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt defended the wallet-sized guide, saying it has been distributed to an 18-29 age group with harm minimisation in mind.
Acting NSW Opposition Leader Andrew Stoner called for the pamphlet to be pulped, saying the harm reduction approach had failed.
"To put out a pamphlet that says Guide to a Better Night ... I think it's sending a message that to have a good night you ought to be taking drugs," Mr Stoner told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
"Clearly, the NSW Labor government has a philosophical approach that legal drugs are okay as long as you take them safely (but) we don't want anyone to take drugs.
"This ought to be pulped completely. This is sending a message that illegal drug use is okay."
No Way Campaign Foundation founder Darren Martin said harm minimisation had failed to reduce drug use in NSW, and should be scrapped.
"Why isn't the government coming out with programs educating young people how to say no to drugs and also how to help their friends?" he asked.
"Instead, they keep churning out this harm-minimisation philosophy at the expense of our kids."
Down to Earth youth counsellor Brett Murray said the brochure was a "sign of surrender".
"It's a sheer sign to the drug dealers, the drug users, that the community at large and particularly the government are saying it's okay," he told Macquarie Radio.
The controversy comes just 18 months after community outrage forced the NSW government to pulp a drug safety guide aimed at year nine and 10 students.
Signalling that the government was unlikely to pulp the latest brochure, Ms Tebbutt said it would be irresponsible not to provide information to drugs users.
"The government's first position is that people shouldn't do drugs, but the government still has a responsibility to look after those that do," Ms Tebbutt told Macquarie Radio.
"The reality is that young adults, some young people do use drugs ... (and) we want to make sure that we reduce the immediate harm."
James Pitts from Odyssey House, which helps people with drug, alcohol and gambling problems, said it was important to protect people even if they ignored the drug warnings.
"The idea is ... we don't want you to use drugs but also we want you as much as possible not to incur any further harm such as overdose," Mr Pitts told Macquarie Radio.
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