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 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 in compulsory rehabilitation are still drug free after 5 years and it 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
(Information on 30/6/00 by Malou Lindholm former teacher and Swedish MP in the European Parliament)
Less addicts not more
Don’t legalize drug pushing
Less crime not more
Taxes for injecting rooms must be used to get addicts’ drug free
More detoxification & effective rehabilitation programs
Prisons & youth centers must get addicts’ drug free
FACT SHEET 17/2000
Drug Advisory Council of Australia Inc.