DRUG COURT PILOT A SUCCESS

THE article headed "Drug Program set up to fail" by Sue Monk (C-M, July
12) stated that I declined to comment on the Drug Court's performance.
In fact, I was on recreation leave at the time, which was conveyed to
Monk.

I do now comment as follows. Twelve months of the Drug Court's existence
has recently been celebrated by the Drug Court team, including three
magistrates and myself involved in developing the Court's processes and
working with a highly dedicated team of workers from the Departments of
Health, Corrective Services. the Queensland Police Service and Legal Aid
Office (Queensland).

We all consider the work of the pilot program to have been highly
successful. We are currently refining processes in the light of
available resources.

At the end of the first year of the Court's operations, two-thirds of
the offenders are still on programs and doing well. This needs to be
measured against the retention rates in drug and alcohol treatment
generally.

I am reliably informed that comprehensive research in this area outlines
the fact that the retention rate for rehabilitation of drug addicts
generally ranges from 4 per cent to 35 per cent in most studies.

The norm is that roughly, a third of addicts complete programs, another
third show some improvement but don't complete and the final third leave
early and show no benefit.

The fact that the Drug Court appears to be holding at least one-half to
two-thirds of its clients means that it is an extremely successful
pilot.

Recent negative articles in the media denigrate from the work of those
dedicated people involved in this innovative and, on the face of it,
highly successful project and could demoralise those on the program who
are making great progress.

D.M. Fingleton, chief magistrate, Brisbane.