US backs rehabilitation diversion

Diverting drug addicts into compulsory rehabilitation is backed by a former US President's chief drug advisor.

William J.Bennett, chief drug advisor to former President Reagan, has told the Washington Post that -

"One clear fact...is that success in treatment is a function of time in treatment. And time in treatment is often a function of coercion - being forced into treatment by a loved one, an employer,or, as is often the case, the legal system... If we treat drug use as purely a medical problem, and treatment as something that can only be voluntarily taken up, fewer people will enter treatment and those who enter treatment are less likely to get well."

As well, drug policy expert from the University of California & Los Angeles, Mark Kleiman, advocates regular drug testing to impose coerced abstinence on parolees and probationers who comprise the most intractable and dangerous population of addicts.

(Source: Commentary Magazine April 2001)

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.