DRUG PROGRAM MAY BE WIDENED

TASMANIA'S illicit drug diversion program may soon include abusers of
legal drugs such as alcohol and pharmaceuticals.

In February Tasmania became the first state to adopt a scheme
diverting illegal drug users from punishment to education and
treatment.

About 429 people have gone through the scheme in the first eight months.

Under the strategy, cannabis users and first-time offenders of other
illicit drugs are able to choose to take part in an assessment,
education or treatment program instead of being charged.

National Council on Drugs chairman and Salvation Army major Brian
Watters said a move to include the abuse of legal drugs, particularly
alcohol, in the diversionary program was under discussion in Tasmania.

"Still the biggest problem we have is the misuse of alcohol," he said.

In Hobart yesterday to address the Tasmanian Early Intervention and
Diversion Forum, Major Watters said assessment, counselling and
treatment were the keys to the intervention programs.

"If a person is apprehended by police and they're a first-time
offender, or an early offender, they can be directed into assessment,
they can be given education material and if they reoffend they can be
sent for counselling," he said.