MORE DETOX FACILITIES NEEDED NOT POLICE POWERS

Mr Carr's strategies to address the findings of the drug summit seem to be:
grant greater powers for the police to confiscate property, detain suspects
and conduct medical searches; close the detox units; don't replace drug and
alcohol staff; employ more analysts.

Did we read the same report, Mr Carr?

We scream "save our kids from drugs" but when our kids fall victim to drug
abuse we seem all too keen to degrade them further.

Central Sydney Area Health Services (CSAH) has two detox units, the
McKinnon Unit at Rozelle Hospital and Basement 82 at Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital. Basement 82 is now closed and the official word is that RPA Drug
and Alcohol Services is closed until after Easter due to staff shortages.

A perusal of the Herald's employment section today shows zero
advertisements for drug and alcohol workers in CSAH. However, for the NSW
Health Drug Programs Bureau there are positions for two managers and 19
different policy analysts. The total remuneration package for these
positions is $1,393,288.

Sorry, Mr Carr, but I don't have faith that these strategies will address
the real problem for victims of drug-related crimes, or users and their
families.

Brian Francis, Alexandria, March 29.