Injecting Rooms Are Not The Answer
During the recent federal election, proposals for the introduction of injecting rooms were put forward.
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
Injecting rooms simply maintain drug users in their addiction and do not help them to cease using.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2007 survey showed that 99 per cent of Australians are against heroin use by an adult.
It is clear that the great majority of Australians want users to quit.
The injecting room in Kings Cross has confirmed that few heroin users are diverted into rehabilitation and most are only offered drug maintenance programs.
Injecting rooms support drug criminals by maintaining drug use which creates demand and the criminals provide heroin for the addicts to use in the injecting room.
The harms of heroin use are well known and include death, coma, infections, cardiovascular and bronchial problems.
Heroin is extremely addictive and is the main drug used by injecting users.
The effect on the wider community from drug maintenance includes more vehicle accidents, drug crime, policing, border protection, hospital emergencies, ambulance services and drug dealing.
Rehabilitation programs that are backed by court diversion programs that help users to quit are superior to drug maintenance.
Investment in drug rehabilitation that gets injecting drug users free of addiction is better that drug maintenance or facilitated injecting drug use.
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.
29/2010
