DRUG STRATEGY TO AVOID JAIL

THE State Government aims to divert all drug offenders into treatment
programs instead of prison with its comprehensive drug diversion strategy.

Unveiled yesterday, the strategy will see drug offenders sent to compulsory
assessment and treatment through a pilot diversion program linked to the new
Drug Court system.

The diversion strategy has three main elements - the cannabis cautioning and
mandatory education system, police diversion of first offenders to
compulsory assessment and treatment and court diversion using the new Drug
Court.

Offenders who commit drug-related crimes can be referred to the Drug Court
system and undertake education programs or treatment supervised directly by
the Court Assessment and Treatment Service.

Serious offenders with significant substance abuse problems will come under
the supervision of Drug Court magistrate Julie Wager or a judge for intense
supervision and treatment programs.

The pilot Drug Court system begins today, along with the police diversion
program for first-time offenders in Perth and Geraldton.

Minister Responsible for Drug Abuse Strategy Kevin Prince said each stage of
the criminal justice system provided an opportunity to engage more drug
users in treatment. "Treatment is, of course, the approach most likely to
change drug users"behaviour and prevent them reoffending and is preferable
to simply jailing them," he said.

He said the strategy was not a soft option because it forced users to
confront their addiction and compelled even minor offenders to undergo some
form of treatment.

"Most of the people who are users don't want that," he said.

WA Substance Users Association manager Tamara Speed said it was positive to
see drug addiction being treated as a health issue rather than a criminal
problem.

She praised the principle of trying to keep drug users out of the prison
system, where drug use was a significant problem. But she was concerned drug
addicts were provided with appropriate treatment options, because a lot of
people going into treatment relapsed.

WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office executive director Terry Murphy said the aim
was to move all offenders into treatment.

Australian National Council on Drugs chairman Brian Watters said the
strategy allowed the underlying issues behind drug addiction to be dealt
with.

The Federal Government is providing more than $11 million over three years
for early intervention and treatment programs as part of the comprehensive
treatment strategy.It will direct an additional $5 million towards a range
of support measures, including family and school programs and a project to
link needle and syringe programs to education and treatment.