PM LAUNCHES DRUG DIVERSION SCHEME

Drug users will be encouraged to undergo treatment as part of a joint
state-commonwealth initiative designed to keep them out of the criminal
justice system.

Prime Minister John Howard and New South Wales Premier Bob Carr announced
the Drug Diversion Program today at Odyssey House, a live-in drug treatment
centre in inner Sydney.

The commonwealth will provide the NSW scheme with $31.8 million over four
years.

Mr Carr said the drug diversion scheme was expected to be an effective means
of fighting the drug problem.

He said 12 per cent of inmates in NSW prisons were there for drug offences.

Around 70 per cent had been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the
time of committing their offence.

'The fact that federal and state governments (are) signed up to a diversion
program is one of the biggest advances we've had,' Mr Carr told reporters.

Mr Howard said there had been an absence of drug treatment programs in
Australia.

He said similar drug diversion agreements were underway in Tasmania and
Queensland.

'We're putting resources into catching the drug barons ... we're putting
resources into educating children against starting with drugs and we're
putting resources into helping people rehabilitate themselves and break
their habits,' Mr Howard said.

'The essence of diversion is to confront people with the choice (of) do you
get sucked into the criminal justice system - or do you go into a diversion
program?'

The diversion scheme to be implemented in NSW includes a trial of
counselling and treatment services as part of a cannabis cautioning scheme;
a compulsory treatment pilot program for the Far North Coast and Illawarra;
early court intervention pilot schemes; a police warning and cautioning
scheme and a youth drug court pilot.

The schemes are to be implemented in areas with the greatest need.