ACT PRISON SHOULD HAVE DETOX AND REHAB UNIT

MICHAEL MOORE'S desire for needle exchanges in an ACT prison (CT, 30 July,
p.3) reveals a restricted ideological conception of health betterment for
illicit drug users. Why not an Australia-wide first in our prison by having
a dedicated, fully equipped, segregated detoxification and rehabilitation
unit.

In the absence of exceptional circumstances, judges could require addicts
to undergo the most successful detox and rehabilitation treatments
(measured by medium/long-term abstinence rates, not increasing syringe
exchanges or drug substitution). The community would be saying 'we want to
help you' and 'you now have your chance' and reject criticism from
ideological spokespersons supporting illicit-drug decriminalisation and
legalisation.

We help others with substantially impaired judgement faculties, despite
themselves, e.g. alcoholics and those contemplating suicide et cetera.
Opiate addicts should be similarly entitled, with the treatment at the door
of the disease. Short term offenders could be referred to outside rehab
centres for ongoing treatment.

In this context Assemblians can marry successfully the judicial and medical
arms of government. Cost is a factor, but if we find millions for
endangered flora and fauna, why not for endangered humans? Each untreated
heroin addict costs the ACT taxpayer at least $120,000 a year, so 125 would
cost $15 million a year - what we may soon spend one-off on a swimming
complex. A reformed addict costs nothing.

COLLISS PARRETT
Bruce