North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow has lashed out at players abusing the AFL's illicit drugs policy.

"I think it's a worry that the processes that are put in place and the guidelines put in place exactly to help those people are being abused," Swallow told the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark.

"I think that's what annoys, especially the majority of the AFL.

"The policy that we've got might need to be tweaked, but it is looking after the welfare of the guys that need it.

"The guys that are abusing it, well, we expect better than that."

It was recently revealed a group of players had been exploiting loopholes in the system by self reporting drug use in order to dodge a strike.  One player is reported to have "self-reported" three times last year.

"From a leadership point of view we don't want any of our players taking or being a part of any illicit drugs.

"But then there's the other hand where you've got to create an environment where blokes who are having certain problems and addictions feel comfortable enough to come and actually speak up.

"We will definitely be extremely strong on coming across that it is not on and it is not acceptable.

"It is not part of being a premiership footballer.

"We still need to make sure they understand and they know if they are having issues they can come and open up and feel like they have the trust of us and that we actually want to help them."