SOFTER APPROACH TO DRUG OFFENDERS

First-time and minor drug offenders will be given the option of
rehabilitation instead of prosecution under a landmark $110 million
agreement reached by the Federal Government and the states.

But drug users who wanted to avoid jail or fines would have to work to
break their habit, the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, said yesterday when
he announced details of the program.

Under the program, police will have the power to recommend that offenders
be diverted to compulsory assessment and then referred to treatment or
education to stop them using drugs.

"In this way for the first time there will be a nation-wide approach
whereby minor drug offenders can have the option of treatment and or
education rather than getting caught up in the criminal justice system," Mr
Howard said.

The former Kennett Government began a trial of the diversion program last
year in two police districts in Melbourne's west and north-western suburbs.
The new State Government's drug policy says the program has proved
successful and will be expanded along with additional resources for
treatment and rehabilitation services to meet the demand generated by
diversion from the criminal system.

Mr Howard yesterday said the diversion program offered realistic choices to
drug users who wanted to beat their habits but he was not claiming the
program would solve the drug problem.

"There is nothing that horrifies me more as a parent or as an Australian,
let alone as Prime Minister, than the notion and the concept that drug
addiction in this country can get out of control," he said. "It is
tremendously important that we persevere."

He praised the police, volunteer organisations and parents who have lost
children through drugs for their continued fight against the scourge.

He said he had received cooperation from all parties on the matter. "This
is not a party political issue. ... on most of the issues our views are
very similar because as human beings we're distressed at the human misery
that's involved.

"None of us in public life can ever forget the experience of sitting down
with sad parent and going through the details of the loss and deprivation
they suffer when they lose a child to a drug overdose or some other event
that is influenced by drug abuse."

The head of the new State Government's Drug Advisory Committee, Professor
David Penington, last night said political and civil courage was needed to
support measures, including the decriminalisation of marijuana, to curb
drug abuse.

He also said new approaches to treatment and rehabilitation for young drug
users were a priority.

Earlier this week, the Premier, Mr Steve Bracks, said legislation for
decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana for personal use was planned.

Professor Penington, who was also the chairman of the former drug advisory
council, said the failure of present drug control strategies must be faced
and that "public opinion polls now show significant support for a change in
stance on drug prohibition".

Professor Penington delivered the Alfred Deakin lecture at Melbourne
University last night.