DOCTORS AGAINST TOUGH DRUG LAWS

DOCTORS have attacked the federal Government's hardline drug policy,
saying there is no evidence a tough stance or law enforcement
strategies prevent drug use. The Royal Australasian College of
Physicians yesterday released a report criticising the emphasis of
drug funding.

The college, which traditionally leaves politics to the Australian
Medical Association, called for better funding for harm-reduction
measures and less emphasis on law enforcement. It also warned that
drug education programs were of limited value.

College president Richard Larkins said that while the Government's
$250 million Tough on Drugs strategy was correct to combine
treatment, education, diversion and enforcement, funds were
disproportionately allocated to policing and customs.

"We need a paradigm shift towards harm-minimisation," Professor
Larkins said, adding that the enforcement stance smacked of
"emotional arguments and motivations".

"We believe policy should be designed on the basis of evidence; if we
don't know the answers we should conduct research," he said.

This extended to education in schools, which Professor Larkin said
was of "very small benefit".

"We cannot rely on it as a major strategy," he said. Programs
targeting self-esteem issues and high-risk groups were preferable.

The report cited a US survey estimating reduction in cocaine use for
each $US 1 million spent on prison sentences was 27kg. The reduction
for each $US 1 million invested in treatment was 103kg.

"It would be wonderful if we could stamp out drug use completely, but
the evidence is that given the pyramidal style of distribution, the
huge drug importation networks and our vast coastline, it won't work
and it can't work," Professor Larkins said. "To think we can stop a
$400 billion trade around the world is fanciful."

The report cited local and international bodies, including the
National Police Research Unit, and concluded: "There is no evidence
that law enforcement has any impact on the price, purity or
availability of heroin at street level."

It estimated the amount of heroin seized in Australia was between 3.7
per cent and 17.2 per cent of the amount consumed. Professor Larkins
said it was easier for addicts to get heroin than rehabilitation.

"The countries that have been successful (in fighting drug addiction)
such as Switzerland and The Netherlands have spent about 50 per cent
of funding on treatment. We are spending well under 20 per cent," he
said.

The first step was for the Government to increase treatment funding.
Calling methadone the "gold standard" treatment, he said the
Government should also not be afraid to trial and fund replacement
pharmacotherapies.

Rehabilitation facilities should be increased and expanded.

The report recommended supervised injecting room trials and, in cases
where pharmacotherapy was unsuccessful, heroin trials.