THE REAL DRUG ISSUE
Recent problems of Australians allegedly couriering illicit drugs in and out of Indonesia focus on reduction of supply of drugs but does not focus on the issue of demand for illicit drugs.
Drug couriers are supplying the current high demand for illicit drugs.
Australian Federal Police and Customs are fighting to stem the tide of illicit drug movements but their efforts are being undermined by lack of effective policies to reduce the drug using population in Australia.
This is why the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board has covenants binding Australia to reduce the demand for illicit drugs.
Illicit drug policy in Australia must be focussed on an objective of substantially reducing the demand for illicit drugs by reducing the drug using population.
The policy should be aimed at teenagers and should specify the objective that no more than 4 per cent of Australian teenagers should have used an illicit drug in the previous year.
A 4 per cent policy objective implies a 7-fold reduction in current teenage drug using rates.
Current polices that maintain illicit drug use like weak cannabis laws, syringe distribution, injecting rooms and drug substitutes are maintaining demand for illicit drugs.
The International Narcotics Control Board supports court ordered diversion programs into drug detoxification and rehabilitation.
Australia does not have sufficient illicit drug detoxification and rehabilitation programs to handle the current illicit drug using population.
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.
18/2005