COALITION'S HARDLINE COURT BID ON ADDICTS

PARENTS and spouses could trigger so-called "anti-social" court orders to
force family members with severe drug addictions into rehabilitation, under
a future Coalition state Government.

The hardline approach to drug dependency will be at the centre of a
Coalition pre-election drugs strategy to be announced today.

Opposition families spokesman Denver Beanland said families would be able to
seek a magistrate's order forcing drug-addicted children, wives or husbands
into treatment.

"These people aren't able to make decisions for themselves because they're
addicted to drugs," Mr Beanland said.

Some drug rehabilitation groups and the Government yesterday expressed
reservations about the approach, warning enforcement could have
counter-productive effects.

Similar to domestic violence orders, the proposed "anti-social behaviour
orders" would be enforced by police, Mr Beanland said.

"If they breach these they'll be in contampt of a court order and they'll
have the police come and collect them for treatment... in a nice way of
course, they're not criminals," Mr Beanland said.

He said the policy was aimed at helping parents who felt powerless to help
their dependent children.

The civil orders would apply to usets of illicit drugs such as heroin and
also could be used by police Juvenile Aid Bureaus and the Families
Department for drug dependents under 18.

Drug and Alcohol Foundation chief executive Bob Aldred warned the act of
forcing people into treatment had to be carefully handled and backed up with
treatment options.

"I'd be favourable of an intervention (with) a cooling-off period," he said.
"But to actually force them into treatment you'll have a reaction away from
treatment."

Mr Aldred said enforced rehabilitation triggered a raft of issues.

"What sort of treatment is suitable and has that person got a mental
problem, or was it brought up from excessive use of drugs?" he said.

"You'd have to approach it with a great deal of caution and I'd want details
about how they intend to implement such a thing."

Mr Aldred said politicians often announced measured such as the treatment
orders without considering an overall strategy.

"We have to be careful we don't get a range of ad-hoc initiatives that don't
have common thread," he said.

But Mr Beanland said the Coalition also would unveil a rapge of treatment
options for drug dependants.

Families Minister Anna Hugh said yesterday that the proposal was a knee-jerk
reaction born out of ignorance about current laws.

"The Juvenile Justice Act already provides for court orders which require
young offenders to participate in relevant programmes," Ms Hugh said.
"Families and young people who are struggling with these difficult issues
are not assisted by half-baked, ill-informed proposals."