IRON RULE FOR THOSE DESPERATELY SEEKING SALVATION

Small Christian rehabilitation centres, relying on God rather than
government for funding - some based in iron discipline and biblical
teachings - have sprung up to combat addiction in country areas.

The head of the NSW National Party's drugs committee, Mr Andrew
Fraser, wants to make one of the most successful, the Sherwood Cliffs
farm - in dirt-road country 50 kilometres north of Coffs Harbour - a
model for all rehabilitation centres.

But the head of the farm, Mr John Reifler. admits drug users often
will only go when they are desperate. "Because we are a Christian
community, we are a last resort."

Mr Reifler, a Baptist pastor and reformed alcoholic who advocates the
death penalty for drug dealers, employs the total opposite of the
"harm minimisation" philosophy which aims at reducing rather than
abolishing drug use.

"When they come in the front gates, they go totally cold turkey. Some
detox elsewhere and some do it here. When they get here, there is no
Panadol and no cigarettes."

"We teach them woodworking, machinery and maintenance of houses, If
they refuse to work, we punish them. If they're not up and out of bed,
we punish them. They have to get up at 6 am most days to milk, or they
have to harvest lantana or Scottish thistle, or on shopping day we
wouldn't give them money."

The "seekers", as those in rehabilitation are called, go on sickness
benefits of about $280 weekly. Mr Reifler says the farm takes $100 and
$180 is put aside to save, pay bills and shop. The farm operates as a
charity, with no government funding and an all-volunteer staff of 12
to 14 who see themselves as serving God.

Mr Reifler says he has put 500 people through rehabilitation in his 20
years at the farm, and claims a 70 per cent success rate with heroin
addicts. There is a waiting list of 30. He is used to folk dying or
going into jails while waiting to get in.