PM praised for $150m ice package's focus on rehabilitation: [2 All-round First Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 23 Apr 2007: 7.
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"Nice to see you," Mr [JOHN Howard] told one former addict, Paul, wishing him good luck with his recovery. Mr Howard listened while another addict, Cain, told him treatment was helping him become a new person.
Mr Howard said while he still believed education and law and order were necessary parts of any effective drug strategy, it was vital to extend a helping hand to those already addicted. "We should not be judgmental of people who become addicted," he said.
The head of the Australian National Council on Drugs, John Herron, said 60 per cent of all anti-drug funding was going to organisations working to rehabilitate addicts. "I have a medical background and I have always believed addiction is a medical problem," he said. "You cannot condemn people who are addicted. It is a disease that needs to be treated."
JOHN Howard has received widespread approval for placing a strong emphasis on rehabilitation when announcing a $150 million package aimed at combating the spread of ice.
At the scene of the announcement yesterday, within the faded rooms of the Salvation Army's William Booth Institute in Sydney,the Prime Minister cheerfully shook the hands of former heroin and ice addicts.
"Nice to see you," Mr Howard told one former addict, Paul, wishing him good luck with his recovery. Mr Howard listened while another addict, Cain, told him treatment was helping him become a new person.
And while speaking to another former addict, Russell, Mr Howard admired the badge he had been awarded for staying clean and sober for 90 days.
Mr Howard said while he still believed education and law and order were necessary parts of any effective drug strategy, it was vital to extend a helping hand to those already addicted. "We should not be judgmental of people who become addicted," he said.
Yesterday's announcement included more than $79 million for treatment programs run by non-government organisations. Thepackage encourages more flexible detoxification arrangements for individuals and their families trying to fight drug addiction. Services will be established to allow drug-addicted parents and their children to receive treatment in one setting.
Mr Howard's focus on rehabilitation rather than jail came as a study by the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation declared the war on drugs had failed and illicit drug use cost business $3.3billion a year.
Foundation president Alex Wodak said a new approach was needed as costly law enforcement methods had largely failed to protect people. "We know that return on investment is very good with drug treatment, harm reduction and social services," he said.
"Other governments around the world have already stopped pretending we can arrest and imprison our way out of this problem."
Greens leader Bob Brown said his party believed in diverting people to the health system, rather than to jail, but not protecting dealers.
"Rescuing people who are addicted and rehabilitating them is the best outcome for them and for society," he said.
The head of the Australian National Council on Drugs, John Herron, said 60 per cent of all anti-drug funding was going to organisations working to rehabilitate addicts. "I have a medical background and I have always believed addiction is a medical problem," he said. "You cannot condemn people who are addicted. It is a disease that needs to be treated."
And Labor leader Kevin Rudd backed the new program, saying: "The country needs it."
Ice-affected families and communities across the nation, he said.
Editorial -- Page 9
First edition:
First edition:
$150m to get a fix on ice addiction through rehabilitation: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 23 Apr 2007: 7.
Show highlighting
Abstract
"Nice to see you," Mr [JOHN Howard] told one former addict, Paul, wishing him good luck with his recovery. Mr Howard listened while another addict, Cain, told him treatment was helping him become a new person.
Mr Howard said while he still believed education and law and order were necessary parts of any effective drug strategy, it was vital to extend a helping hand to those already addicted. "We should not be judgmental of people who become addicted," he said.
The head of the Australian National Council on Drugs, John Herron, said 60 per cent of all anti-drug funding was going to organisations working to rehabilitate addicts. "I have a medical background and I have always believed addiction is a medical problem," he said. "You cannot condemn people who are addicted. It is a disease that needs to be treated."
JOHN Howard has received widespread approval for placing a strong emphasis on rehabilitation when announcing a $150 million package aimed at combating the spread of ice.
At the scene of the announcement yesterday, within the faded rooms of the Salvation Army's William Booth Institute in Sydney,the Prime Minister cheerfully shook the hands of former heroin and ice addicts.
"Nice to see you," Mr Howard told one former addict, Paul, wishing him good luck with his recovery. Mr Howard listened while another addict, Cain, told him treatment was helping him become a new person.
And while speaking to another former addict, Russell, Mr Howard admired the badge he had been awarded for staying clean and sober for 90 days.
Mr Howard said while he still believed education and law and order were necessary parts of any effective drug strategy, it was vital to extend a helping hand to those already addicted. "We should not be judgmental of people who become addicted," he said.
Yesterday's announcement included more than $79 million for treatment programs run by non-government organisations. Thepackage encourages more flexible detoxification arrangements for individuals and their families trying to fight drug addiction. Services will be established to allow drug-addicted parents and their children to receive treatment in one setting.
Mr Howard's focus on rehabilitation rather than jail came as a study by the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation declared the war on drugs had failed and illicit drug use cost business $3.3billion a year.
Foundation president Alex Wodak said a new approach was needed as costly law enforcement methods had largely failed to protect people. "We know that return on investment is very good with drug treatment, harm reduction and social services," he said. "Other governments around the world have already stopped pretending we can arrest and imprison our way out of this problem."
Greens leader Bob Brown said his party believed in diverting people to the health system, rather than to jail, but not protecting dealers.
"Rescuing people who are addicted and rehabilitating them is the best outcome for them and for society," he said.
The head of the Australian National Council on Drugs, John Herron, said 60 per cent of all anti-drug funding was going to organisations working to rehabilitate addicts. "I have a medical background and I have always believed addiction is a medical problem," he said. "You cannot condemn people who are addicted. It is a disease that needs to be treated."
And Labor leader Kevin Rudd backed the new program, saying: "The country needs it."
Ice affected families and communities across the nation, he said.
Editorial -- Page 9
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