HOWARD LOOKS AT DRUG TREATMENT CENTRES INSTEAD OF JAIL

The Prime Minister is considering a national scheme that would encourage
courts to send small-time drug offenders to treatment centres rather than
jails.

Mr Howard's office and the Australian National Council on Drugs are
understood to be looking at "diversion" procedures for petty drug users
with a view to raising the proposal at the April 9 Premiers' Conference.

Diversion, which its advocates say could save $100 million a year in prison
costs alone, is aimed at steering young offenders away from the prison
system where they were more likely to become hardened criminals than to be
cured of their addiction.

Because the court system is a State responsibility, any role by the Federal
Government is likely to be in co-ordination and would probably require Mr
Howard to offer more Commonwealth money to finance treatment centres, most
of which are already under great pressure. At a press conference yesterday
Mr Howard did not canvass the diversion proposal but said he was looking at
a number of measures.

He said he was looking at a number of ideas. "It's very obvious that an
important element of an effective strategy is to have adequate resources
available for the treatment of people who wish to kick the habit. And
there's nothing more distressing ... than to be told by somebody that their
child or they themselves are trying to find treatment and can't get it
because there's too great a demand for the treatment or the detoxification
process," Mr Howard said.