Various media outlets have reported on criminal penalties given to convicted Australian illicit drug smugglers in overseas countries.

Most of these reports have centred on close neighbours such as Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Reduction of supply of illicit drugs is important to Australian border protection but can only be part of any solution of high drug demand in Australia.

High demand for illicit drugs in Australia brings with it high personal costs for drug smugglers, illicit drug users, legal and medical authorities, legislators and the wider community that are affected by crime, accidents and personal trauma.

These costs were estimated at $12 billion in 1998/9 according to the Australian Parliament Road to Recovery report.

This $12 billion cost would be considerably greater today and does not count the trauma to individuals nor the costs of overseas neighbours.

If $12 billion were spent every year on reducing the demand for illicit drugs by substantially reducing the number of illicit drug users this would have a major positive social impact on Australia and its people.

Overseas countries that have substantially reduced the number of illicit drug users know that this drug demand reduction also substantially reduces the supply of illicit drugs.

Australia becomes less of a target for international criminals if we reduce the demand for illicit drugs.

Australian citizens are therefore less likely to be caught up in illicit drug smuggling and we remove the cash flow to the international criminals.

Australia can reduce its demand for illicit drugs by providing comprehensive detoxification and rehabilitation aimed at getting drug users off drugs quickly and permanently.

THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes. 4/2006