WHY WE NEED A NEW TAKE ON DRUGS

Polarisation of views is profound between those advocating prohibition of
drugs and those calling for legalisation. On one hand are the moralists,
with their "just say no" approach. On the other are proponents of civil
liberties, citing the tenets of the "liberal society". Fear of involvement
of their children in the drug scene is a potent factor in many people's
feelings and judgments. These strong feelings must be taken into account.

There is now wide acceptance that the current arrangements have failed to
resolve the crisis for Australia. However, despite claims from either side,
there is no simple solution. The problem has to be tackled at many levels -
education, supply, distribution, treatment and rehabilitation, arrangements
to minimise the havoc caused through crime, spread of infection,
trafficking on the streets, and the mounting death toll.

Sudden legalisation of all illicit drugs would cause havoc, and is not an
option. Without seeking to determine an end-point for reforms, we need to
consider change step by step.

The cannabis issue is important - not because it causes deaths or
widespread problems, but because leaving it in criminal hands puts young
people, many of whom will use marijuana whether we like it or not, at risk
of being introduced to heroin from the same source as their marijuana. It
is also important to be able to give credible, health-based messages to
young people about the dangers of marijuana abuse. Decriminalisation of
marijuana, with penalties for misuse, is a priority.

Most use of marijuana is occasional. Only a small minority use it on a
weekly basis or more frequently. Marijuana on its own is a sedative,
similar in many aspects to moderate use of alcohol, although marijuana use
does not lead to the noisy behavior and the risk-taking driving associated
with alcohol. "Marijuana-laden" drivers are likely to creep slowly along
the side of the road and to pull up well short of traffic lights.

Heavy, repeated use, however, does have deleterious effects with loss of
application to study or work. More importantly, heavy marijuana users are
likely to use other illicit drugs. Multiple drug use carries further dangers.

When it is widely known among young people that tobacco and alcohol have a
far greater association with disease and cause far more deaths than
marijuana, moral arguments are difficult to sustain. In 1997 the
Commonwealth reported just over 22,700 deaths attributable to drugs in
Australia. The vast majority, 18,200, were ascribed to tobacco, with 3700
assigned to hazardous and harmful use of alcohol. The remainder (around
800) were due to use of illicit drugs, with only one connected with cannabis.

Young people are familiar with these figures and many consider the criminal
status of marijuana to be hypocritical, because it is primarily a young
person's drug. Disregarding the law in respect to marijuana means that the
law is no longer a bar to experimentation with other much more dangerous
drugs.

Coming to heroin, the problems are greater. There is no quick fix. The
fast-mounting number of heroin users, particularly in a progressively
younger age group, indicates that the increasing number of deaths from
heroin overdose is likely to be with us for years. Treatment and
appropriate rehabilitation facilities for young people remain a high
priority. Primary prevention through realistic and effective education also
remains a fundamental issue. New approaches are essential.

Incarceration of drug users in prison achieves nothing. There is a need for
great expansion of counselling and treatment programs, covering a range of
treatments, withdrawal and supervision services for those willing to go
this way. These need strong social support, if such people are to get their
lives together again, including getting into productive employment.

The provision of safe injecting houses, based on experience in Germany,
Switzerland and Holland, would save many lives. It is urgent that we trial
this approach, providing adequate safeguards are in place.

This issue is inevitably emotive. Combative party politics could so easily
be generated and prevent us from curbing the mounting death toll. With the
current glut of opium in South-East Asia, Australia is more at risk than
almost any other country. We must make a fresh start in the interests of
future generations of our young people.

Dr David Penington advised the Kennett Government and is advising the
Bracks Government on drugs policy. This is an edited extract of the Alfred
Deakin Lecture, delivered in Melbourne last night. E-mail:
opinion@theage.fairfax.com.au