PUSH TO LET PARENTS LOCK UP ADDICTS

A SENIOR Sydney magistrate has called for parents of heroin addicted
teenagers to be able to apply to the court to force their children
into compulsory treatment.

The home detention sentencing system could be extended to make addicts
serve their sentences at a rehabilitation or detoxification centre,
Bankstown magistrate Craig Thompson said yesterday.

Mr Thompson said the system could also be of benefit to parents with
chronically uncontrollable children.

He called for the new measure on the second day of the Salvation Army
organised Drug Summit 2000 held at NSW Parliament House.

The long-time magistrate said his experience in the Children's Court
had shown him parents could use the civil system to coerce their
children into rehabilitation.

"Once in the hands of the court, coercion could be applied," he
said.

"As a civil process they cannot face criminal penalties, however the
court could direct such young people into a place of safety to be kept
within the confines of the remand centre at the court and counselling
facilities where available."

Detoxification expert George O'Neill told the conference heroin
addiction was an "epidemic" passed on by one partner to the next.