CLINICS SWAMPED BY DRUG ADDICTS

Drug addicts were being forced to wait up to two weeks to start
rehabilitation in the ACT, NSW and Queensland, in the face of a 16 per
cent jump in demand for help, the Salvation Army said. The Salvation
Army's clinics in both states and the ACT were filled, and the
assistant manager at the ACT's Mancare centre in Fyshwick, Lieutenant
Greg Fean, said the clinic had been booked solid for about six months.
This level of demand had not been experienced before.

The increased demand was caused by more people needing help. Addiction
to more than one substance was the biggest growth area. Lieutenant
Fean also believed that more people wanted a "total abstinence"
rehabiitation program.

Health Minister Michael Moore said he was aware that drug addiction
was an increasing problem in the ACT, and the government-funded
programs were being looked at with that in mind. The Salvation Army's
abstinence approach was one in a broad spectrum of methods.

However, the chairman of the Federal Government's National Council on
Drugs, Salvation Army Major Brian Watters, had revealed that "he did
not understand the importance of harm-minimisation strategies" when he
criticised Ansett Australia's decision earlier this week to install
needle bins in its aircraft.

Mr Moore said one of the most disappointing recent developments was
Prime Minister John Howard's increased emphasis on policing instead of
treatment, and Major Watters should be using his influence with the
Prime Minister to reverse that trend.

Major Graham Rose, of the William Booth institute in Sydney, said that
although the army tried not to turn people away it was very important
to "strike while the iron was hot", and even if people were found
alternative accommodation while waiting for a place, they did not
always return for treatment.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry