DETOX MUST BE EFFECTIVE
A recent plea for better illicit drug detoxification highlights that the current six day maximum stay is inadequate leading to ineffective drug rehabilitation.
The letter highlights that a 24 year old who wanted to get off drugs has been through three detoxifications in the last 12 months and is still not rehabilitated.
Longer stays in detoxification beds, more rehabilitation and a safer community provides a better outcome for everybody.
(Source: Letter to the editor, Melbourne Herald Sun 30 September 2006).
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA COMMENTS-
Overseas drug rehabilitation programs provide evidence that illicit drug users can be made drug free and remain off illicit drugs.
Sweden provides a comprehensive program to assist illicit drug users to get off drugs and stay off them.
Sweden links detoxification and rehabilitation so that illicit drug users are given a continuous program to get them drug free quickly and permanently.
Sweden uses its courts to divert illicit drug users into detoxification and rehabilitation therefore reducing the demand for illicit drugs.
Effective detoxification and rehabilitation requires that a former illicit drug user must remain drug free for at least five years after rehabilitation concludes for it to be counted as a success.
Illicit drug detoxification and rehabilitation programs should have a target of at least 90 per cent success in getting users’ drug free and should be audited to ensure these targets are met.
Australia must have a national illicit drug strategy target of no more than 4 per cent of teenagers having used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months.
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. 35/2006