DETOXIFICATION & REHABILITATION FOR ADDICTS DOES WORK
In Sweden, detoxification and rehabilitation is a key part of Government policy to get addicts drug free and all political parties agree that –
· The objective of all Government policies must be a drug free society
· No person has been put in jail in the past 30 years for using drugs, there are drug users in jail but they have committed other crimes
· Treatment ranges from counseling sessions for the addict and their family, to compulsory treatment for addicts who are unable to break their addiction
· All treatment is funded entirely by government money raised by taxes
· In 1988 strong laws were passed providing court ordered & supervised compulsory detoxification and rehabilitation for drug users
· Rehabilitation is well organized and addicts can stay in treatment for as long as they need (1, 2 or 3 years), and if addicts leave they can re-enter at any time
· Rehabilitation is run by many groups including government with emphasis on learning to live as a family member
· 7 or 8 out of 10 former addicts forced into compulsory rehabilitation are still drug free after 5 years, and success is higher for former addicts who were voluntary
· Many rehabilitation centers of 4 to 6 addicts are in small towns or farms providing a family environment for an addict
· Rehabilitating addicts are taught life skills and can get University degrees
· Many rehabilitation centers have now closed down because of a lack of addicts
Source: Malou Lindholm former teacher & Swedish European Parliament MP 30/6/00
We must oppose injecting rooms and push for court ordered detoxification & rehabilitation
Less addicts
Less drug dealers
Less drug related crime
Drug pushing & drug use must remain illegal
Taxes for injecting rooms must be used for detoxification & rehabilitation
Detoxification & rehabilitation must be court ordered
Drug centers must get addicts’ drug free
FACT SHEET M12
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA Inc.