Group defends approach to drug problem

The Australian National Council on Drugs has defended the nation's drugs strategy amid claims Australia takes a soft approach to the problem.

Stung by the reaction to the hanging of convicted Australian drug runner Nguyen Tuong Van earlier this month, state-run media in Singapore have claimed Australia is soft on drugs.

They have targeted initiatives such as Sydney's supervised heroin injecting room which opened more than four years ago in Kings Cross.

Singapore says its tough laws and penalties for drug trafficking are an effective deterrent against a crime that ruins lives, and that foreigners and Singaporeans must be treated alike.

In a statement, the council said that it continued to support Australia's approach of investing in drug treatment programs.

It backed medication-based treatments, like methadone programs, saying they had been proven to reduce heroin use and cut criminal behaviour.

The council said that while giving up drugs was an important long-term goal, evidence-based treatment deserved support.

"The myriad of benefits to the community in moving dependent heroin users into treatment should not be undervalued," it said.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Wed, 14 December 2005
Source: The Age(Australia Web)
Author:Australian Associated Press
Website: http://www.theage.com.au/news