source:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/forced-rehab-mooted-in-addressing-drug-addiction-in-australia-plan/story-fnpp4dl6-1227530674571Forced rehab mooted in Addressing Drug Addiction in Australia planDRUG users should be sent to rehabilitation detention centres for four months and consumption made a criminal offence, according to a hard-line plan submitted to the government.Reverend Angel Roldan, who runs a charity which supports drug addicts, believes the government should adopt a system similar to one used by authorities in Singapore to tackle the ice crisis.
“We need new legislation and new laws,” Rev Roldan said.
The Addressing Drug Addiction in Australia calls for a a Singapore style approach of “tough love” to drug users.Forced rehab mooted in Addressing Drug Addiction in Australia plan
Drug users should be sent to rehabilitation detention centres for four months, a radical plan says.
DRUG users should be sent to rehabilitation detention centres for four months and consumption made a criminal offence, according to a hard-line plan submitted to the government.
Reverend Angel Roldan, who runs a charity which supports drug addicts, believes the government should adopt a system similar to one used by authorities in Singapore to tackle the ice crisis.
“We need new legislation and new laws,” Rev Roldan said.
The Addressing Drug Addiction in Australia calls for a a Singapore style approach of “tough love” to drug users.
“In Singapore that’s what they did and they were able to apprehend people who needed rehabilitation.
“Families of addicts thanked (the authorities) for it.
“It is a different culture but the problems are the same ... the amount of money we invest in drug programs in Australia is crazy and the programs don’t work.”
The new plan concentrates on government and non-government organisations being involved in prevention, enforcement, treatment, rehabilitation and after-care.
Rev Roldan, founder of the charity Life Gate, has enlisted the help of Frankston state MP Paul Edbrooke and the Federal MP for Dunkley Bruce Billson in getting his plan off the ground.
“We will be submitting the plan to the ice taskforce for their perusal,” Mr Edbrooke said.
“There are a number of things in there that could work but also a number of things which, because of cultural differences between Australia and Singapore, might be difficult.”
Mr Billson said: “Drug addiction and the scourge of ice are devastating families and ruining individuals’ lives in our community.
“It is an issue I am deeply concerned about and share the burning aim of those caring for addicts ... to find better solutions.
“The number of people that bring forward ideas and insights from their first-hand experience shows the level of community concern.”
Rev Roldan is convinced his plan can help beat the scourge of ice on Victorian streets.
“You could call it tough love,” he said.
“They are forcing people to get well and beat their addiction.
“In Singapore they put drug addicts in detention centres for up to four months and detox them and teach them job skills. It has been very successful.”
In Singapore if a drug addict seeks help from a doctor that medical practitioner is required by law to send the addict’s details to the Central Narcotics Bureau.
The addict is then immediately sent to a drug rehabilitation centre.
Addicts are subject to random testing after they have finished their rehabilitation.
The Misuse of Drugs Act gives police the power to search anyone they suspect of drug use or trafficking, without a warrant.
People convicted of drug trafficking face the death penalty.
Reverend Angel Roldan’s plan to tackle drugs
— Change existing drug laws in Australia.
— Give authorities the power to force addicts to spend months in drug rehabilitation detention centres.
— Rev Roldan says the Singapore approach of “tough love” has worked for 20 years.
— Singapore has one of the lowest rates of drug abuse worldwide, according to government statistics.
— Fewer than 20 per cent of addicts released from prison or drug rehabilitation centres relapse within two years.
— If a drug addict seeks help from a doctor that medical practitioner is required to send the addict’s details to the Central Narcotics Bureau.
— The addict is then immediately sent to a drug rehabilitation centre.
david.hurley@news.com.au