DRUG TESTING SHOULD INCREASE
A crime journalist with one of Australia’s leading newspapers has proposed a novel idea-
POLICE SHOULD BE DRUG TESTED
The journalist not only proposes that police, but also Members of Parliament, judges, public prosecutors, barristers and others that make critical decisions should also be drug tested.
The journalist highlights the experience of a young Victorian police officer that died of a ecstasy overdose in 2001 and the recent drug death of a leading Queens Council.
(Source: The Age newspaper, Victoria, 5 June 2007)
The Drug Advisory Council of Australia Comments-
Police are one of a group of occupations where illicit drug use may impair decisions and put the lives of others at risk.
Not the least of the risks is police being in possession of firearms and the prospect of high speed driving.
Other occupations such as airline pilots, public transport drivers, petrol tanker drivers, medical staff and others that are dealing in life or death activities should be drug tested on a random basis, so why not police?
The critical question is- when drug use is disclosed are there sufficient detoxification and rehabilitation programs available to get users free of illicit drug use?
Random illicit drug testing MUST be followed by comprehensive detoxification and rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users free of drugs permanently.
Without detoxification and rehabilitation drug testing is meaningless.
Sporting personalities have had to travel overseas to get rehabilitation because Australia does not have at least one centre of excellence in drug rehabilitation. Why Not!
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. 19/2007