News (Media Awareness Project) - Australia: Boost For War On Drugs |
| Title: | Australia: Boost For War On Drugs |
| Published On: | 1999-03-18 |
| Source: | Herald Sun (Australia) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-06 10:33:24 |
BOOST FOR WAR ON DRUGS
ON-the-ground troops in the war against drugs will get a $20million
boost from Prime Minister John Howard in Melbourne today.
More than 50 community support groups working on the streets to help
addicts break their habit will receive cash handouts to bolster
counselling and treatment services.
The government hopes this latest phase of its anti-drugs strategy will
reduce long queues for rehabilitation and detoxification.
The $20million funding package is part of the PM's 1997 Tough on Drugs
battle plan, worth $290million over four years.
The money has been brought forward by several months in response to
the nation's deadly heroin crisis, highlighted by the Herald Sun's
series on the issue.
It will boost $30million in funding announced last year for 24
community centres and 68 other non-government organisations.
Mr Howard will reveal successful funding applications from around the
nation in a speech at Anglicare's West Melbourne centre today.
He has already promised to reveal new ideas to tackle the drugs menace
when state and territory leaders meet in Canberra on April 9.
With community pressure to intensify measures to stem the supply and
use of illicit drugs, today's announcement is partly to show the
government is still taking action.
Mr Howard remains determined not to give the go-ahead for heroin
trials, despite a go-it-alone bid by Victoria and the ACT.
Instead, the PM will use today's speech to underscore his belief that
emphasis should be on cutting addiction.
"This is about helping addicts kick a lifetime of dependency, which
heroin trials would not do," a source said.
The money will enable community groups to dispatch extra workers on to
the streets.
Counselling services will also be extended, in line with the
strategy's aim of educating users about the dangers of their habits.
The Herald Sun's series has highlighted an alarming surge in the use
of illicit drugs, especially heroin.
It has been estimated the number of deaths in Victoria from heroin
overdoses this year could reach 475.
ON-the-ground troops in the war against drugs will get a $20million
boost from Prime Minister John Howard in Melbourne today.
More than 50 community support groups working on the streets to help
addicts break their habit will receive cash handouts to bolster
counselling and treatment services.
The government hopes this latest phase of its anti-drugs strategy will
reduce long queues for rehabilitation and detoxification.
The $20million funding package is part of the PM's 1997 Tough on Drugs
battle plan, worth $290million over four years.
The money has been brought forward by several months in response to
the nation's deadly heroin crisis, highlighted by the Herald Sun's
series on the issue.
It will boost $30million in funding announced last year for 24
community centres and 68 other non-government organisations.
Mr Howard will reveal successful funding applications from around the
nation in a speech at Anglicare's West Melbourne centre today.
He has already promised to reveal new ideas to tackle the drugs menace
when state and territory leaders meet in Canberra on April 9.
With community pressure to intensify measures to stem the supply and
use of illicit drugs, today's announcement is partly to show the
government is still taking action.
Mr Howard remains determined not to give the go-ahead for heroin
trials, despite a go-it-alone bid by Victoria and the ACT.
Instead, the PM will use today's speech to underscore his belief that
emphasis should be on cutting addiction.
"This is about helping addicts kick a lifetime of dependency, which
heroin trials would not do," a source said.
The money will enable community groups to dispatch extra workers on to
the streets.
Counselling services will also be extended, in line with the
strategy's aim of educating users about the dangers of their habits.
The Herald Sun's series has highlighted an alarming surge in the use
of illicit drugs, especially heroin.
It has been estimated the number of deaths in Victoria from heroin
overdoses this year could reach 475.
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