Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform


 

 

 


NEWSLETTER May, 2001 ISSN 1444-2000

Next Meeting

Thursday 24th May -7.30pm

Speaker at 8pm

David Moses, Pharmacist

"Experiences in methadone dispensing under the community program"

St Ninian’s Uniting Church Hall,

Cnr Mouat & Brigalow Sts, Lyneham

We look forward to seeing you there.

Everyone is welcome.
A cuppa following the meeting
will give time for informal chat.

Important Meeting on 28th June, 2001

As part of "Drug Action Week", an Alcohol and other Drugs Council initiative, Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform is organising a Forum which will take place on Thursday 28th June at 7.15pm for 7.30pm at the Reception Room of the Legislative Assembly. Kerrie Tucker, MLA will be hosting and chairing this event. A panel of speakers will address the dimensions of the drug problem from the point of view of agencies or sectors that do not have drugs as their principle focus but are none the less affected by drugs in an indirect way. These will include speakers from the mental health area, suicide prevention, education and children at risk. Please keep this date free (it is our normal meeting night) and invite as many as you can from your communities. We will have further information at our May meeting on Thursday 24th.

Meeting on 26th July, 2001

Dr Michael Tedeschi, Senior Medical Officer with the Alcohol and Drug Program will be speaking about the new pharmacotherapies becoming available for opiate dependency including Naltrexone.

Membership Renewal

Thank you to all those who have renewed their membership. We value your membership and your support for the work we are doing. If you have not yet renewed we look forward to hearing from you soon as your membership is very important to us.

Editorial

Over the last few weeks in the ACT there has been some groundwork laid for the forth coming ACT election with the Justice Minister, Bill Stefaniak, introducing legislation to increase the strength of some laws. One of the laws which limited conditions under which bail can be provided was passed with Kerrie Tucker (MLA, ACT Greens), the only LA member to vote against it. She seems to be the only member of the Legislative Assembly concerned about this.

This groundwork sets the scene for a law and order "Dutch auction" bidding that is sure to happen during an election campaign. That is unless we point out the folly of such action!

But this is not only happening in the ACT. We have seen the Federal Government’s ineffective "tough on drugs" approach which has not stemmed overdose deaths or reduced drug usage over the last two terms of office, and we can see by looking at the various states that those governments too, think that tougher law and order on crime will win votes. The Queensland government in the last few days passed a bill through parliament, unchallenged, to make strip searches of prisoners compulsory whenever those prisoners return from a period in hospital or from a court appearance or after contact visits. These searches are to be accompanied by Big Brother camera footage of the event,.

Here in the ACT, Mr Stefaniak, the Justice Minister is also introducing a tougher law and order bill which has the aim of increasing community safety and to act as a deterrent to crime. One of the features which should worry most citizens is, as I understand it, the removal, in certain circumstances, of the need to obtain a warrant to enter premises.

A number of errors have been made by police in the US breaking into wrong houses in search of drugs with guns drawn and where innocent people have been killed or been traumatised. Will removing the checks and balances against that sort of thing make us feel more secure?

The ACT Justice Minister obviously understands that most crime is caused by drug addiction because he stated in the Assembly’s supervised injecting place debate in December 1999 that 85–90 percent of heroin used is paid for by proceeds of crime.

Surely then it makes more sense to deal with this root cause rather than increasing police powers.

The evidence is quite clear that jailing addicts is not a solution and that increasing the severity of the law has no effect in reducing the crime. On the other hand the evidence is equally clear that increasing treatment places and options is effective. The Swiss heroin prescription program is one effective way of managing addiction and it has reduced crime by up to 95 percent. Even the often (but wrongly) maligned methadone maintenance program has been shown to manage addiction and reduce crime.

As for Queensland, it seems that those in jail with an underlying addiction as the cause for them being in jail are easy prey. These are people who, if sufficient treatment options and services had been available to them prior to coming to the notice of the law, might not be in prison. Detected drugs by strip searches will mean their sentence is extended (or at least their chance of parole diminished). Not only are they punished for an underlying health condition but they receive ongoing punishment because of that condition.

ABC news on this subject reported:

Prisoners Legal Service's solicitor Cathy Peraria says strip searching does not stop drugs from getting into prisons. "There's been such a lack of evidence that strip searching has been successful in detecting either drugs or contraband of any sort," she said.

Civil Liberties vice-president Terry O'Gorman agrees, saying mandatory searching is unjustifiably invasive and a methadone program in all state prisons would be more effective.

But where are the drug treatment programs in Queensland jails? The answer is that they are almost non-existent. Perhaps it is a question that should be asked of all states?

The tough law and order approach is too easy for politicians looking to present the voters with a quick fix solution. Quick fix solutions by past governments that gave us prohibition laws, are the causes of the problems we are having today.

But there are no quick fix solutions in this area. It takes effort and hard work by politicians to tackle the social and health issues behind drug addiction and related crime, and courage to trial new initiatives such as heroin prescription and courage to modernise our drug laws.

In the next election will you vote for someone who genuinely wants to deal with the root cause of drugs and related crime; someone who will look to the evidence and the experts for advice, or will you vote for someone who wants to follow a populist law and order approach even when the evidence suggests they do otherwise?

Direction of UN drug body in question after US loses seat

This is a transcript of The World Today broadcast at 12:10 AEST on local radio.

The World Today - Tuesday, May 8, 2001 12:45

JOHN HIGHFIELD: Well there's been a changing of the guard at the world's principal drug law enforcement body. The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board has long been dominated by the United States, reflecting hard line views on drug policy, espoused by the White House.

But in a little noted vote last week, the United States lost its seat on the board of the international drug agency.

As Washington correspondent Michael Carey reports for us, this raises questions about just where the drug enforcement body is now headed.

MICHAEL CAREY: When the ACT first floated a heroin trial proposal in the 1990's it was warned that such a move would be in contravention of Australia's international agreement on drugs. That warning came from the International Narcotics Control Board, the 13-member UN [United Nations] body which assesses drug policies around the world, in light of standing United Nations' Conventions.

And in recent years its interpretations have closely modeled the US's famed war on drugs philosophy, effectively backing a global zero tolerance model which precluded decriminalisation or legalisation.

But for the foreseeable future, Washington is going to have to apply pressure to keep the board on track from the outside. This morning, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher revealed the US candidate who'd served as vice-president on the board had failed to win an expected third term.

Supervised Injecting Room Opens in Sydney

Australia’s first supervised injecting room has now opened but without fanfare and without trumpets.

This opening comes after a long running battle with the Kings Cross Chamber of Commerce who object to the location (but not to the facility). While the NSW Supreme Court action brought by the Chamber has been dismissed, the Chamber has vowed to fight on. However their chances of winning an appeal at the next highest court is unlikely to succeed and they cannot now have an injunction issued to prevent the facility from operating.

The presiding judge, Justice Sully of the Supreme Court, ordered the Chamber to pay costs. The decision upholds the validity of the licence and upholds the role of the Uniting Church Property Trust as the holder of the licence.

The spokesperson for the chamber, Mr Malcolm Duncan, is a barrister who ran in the last state election as an independent for the seat of Bligh but only received a very small number of votes. Clover Moore is the sitting state member for Bligh and supports the injecting room.

The injecting room has now been operating for a few weeks and over 100 persons used the facility in the first week. The centre has had its first overdose patient, whom the staff revived with oxygen. In other circumstances this person would probably have overdosed in a dark lane or toilet and may not have been revived.

The injecting room has been under the media spotlight. The director, Dr Ingrid Van Beek, has put in considerable effort to minimise the impact that the media might have by briefing media and providing file footage for TV media to use. This seems to have helped but the media presence may have deterred some users. Opening the centre on the night of a major football game may have helped take away the first user/first day sensationalism as Australia cheered for their favourite team. When the novelty for the media wears off, usage of the facility is expected to increase.

The last word will always be those of the Rev’d Harry Herbert of the Uniting Church who has said: "saving lives seems to be the Christian thing to do"

Calendar of Events for Drug Action Week

promoted by Alcohol and Drug Council of Australia

Following is a list of events which will be occurring across the nation during Drug Action Week June 25 – June 29, 2001. Further details are available as they come to hand on ADCA’s website www.adca.org.au. Unfortunately the site does not presently have times and venues but it does have contact numbers so if you are interested in attending any of these events please contact the relevant event organiser.

National Activities

Monday 25 June Launch of DRUG ACTION WEEK 2001 - Odyssey House, Sydney NSW

Wednesday 27 June National Alcohol Tax Reform Alliance – activities in Perth, Adelaide, Canberra

Thursday 28 June Launch of National Indigenous Substance Misuse Council – Parliament House, Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

25 June

"Day tripper" Bus Tour of Alcohol and other Drug Facilities.

ACT Community Care, Melanie Wyatt 02 6205 4515,

25 June

1st Seminar Series – Treatment programs (Melanie Wyatt)

26 June

2nd Seminar Series – Prevention and Education Programs (Melanie Wyatt)

27 June

3rd Seminar Series – Dual Diagnosis (Melanie Wyatt)

28 June

Launch of the National Indigenous Substance Misuse Council at Parliament House. Beth Harvey 02 6281 0686. 

28 June

Community forum hosted by Kerrie Tucker MLA, ACT Legislative Assembly in the Reception Room of the ACT Legislative Assembly at 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform.. Brian McConnell 

29 June

Launch of Pharmaceuticals in the Workplace campaign.

Building Trades Group. Dean Hall

Western Australia

25 June

Launch of Treatment Day at Art Gallery of WA. Jill Rundle 08 9420 7236, 

25-29 June

Local Drug Action Group activities (Jill Rundle)

25-29 June

Exhibition of Artworks of Clients of Treatment Agencies, Art Gallery of WA (Jill Rundle)

26 June

Variety of activities in Forrest Place, Perth.

27 June

Alcohol Consumption Display in Perth, Chris McDonald 08 9420 7261, 

29 June

Open Day - South Metro Community Drug Service Team, Rose 08 9335 8156

South Australia

28 June

Launch of ADAC’s "Drugs in Pregnancy" campaign. Geoff Roberts 

28 June

Award ceremony for workers in Indigenous substance misuse (Geoff Roberts)

28 June

ADAC Health Day. Victoria Square. (Geoff Roberts)

Victoria

26 June

Launch of "Responding to Cannabis" - Australian Drug Foundation resource for Secondary Schools

26 June

Launch of "Drugs in Prisons" strategy. Victorian Office of Corrections.

New South Wales

25 June

National Launch of DRUG ACTION WEEK 2001. Odyssey House.

25-29 June

Community Drug Action Team events throughout New South Wales

26 June

Open Day at Macarthur Drug and Alcohol Youth Project, Linda Goldspink-Lord 02 4628 2319, mdayp@ideal.net.au

26 June

Information evening and Hypothetical at Tumbi Umbi High. Amanda Pullinger 

27-28 June

Community Drug Expo in Central Coast main shopping centre (Amanda Pullinger)

28-29 June

NSW Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA) Conference. Larry Pierce 02 9281 4781

29 June

Open Day at Lyndon Withdrawal Unit, Bloomfield Campus, Orange. Lynette 02 6360 7934.

30 June

Ted Noffs Awards, Sydney 

TBC

Special screening of Traffic in Central Coast/Hunter.

TBC

Local media survey designed by the CDAT on community drug issues in Orange. Inspector Greg Birtles 02 6361 5436.

TBC

Poetry/writing competition for young people in Mudgee. Sue Harding 02 6372 0048

Northern Territory

25 June

Information displays in Alice Springs mall.

Tasmania

25 June

National School Drug Education Project, Hobart. Julia Fassina 03 6228 9144

26 June

Youth Drug Use Debate, Launceston Youth Council. Tina Walker 03 6228 9144 

26 June

Launch of North West Region Drug Education Network office, Devonport. Janine Phillis 03 6421 7795

27 June

Launch of new Parent and Young People resource. Liz Schultz 03 6228 9144

27 June

Parent Drug Education Session (Tina Walker)

28 June

Official opening of the Drug Education Network Launceston office (Tina Walker)

28 June

National School Drug Education Project – Cross Agency Workshop, Launceston. John Alford 03 6334 0445

29 June

Drug Education Workshop/Expo, Outlands. Ron Mason 03 6228 9144 

Queensland

24 June

Branch Out Open Day, Nambour. Judith Hart 07 3368 3822 

25 June

Open Day, Mirikai Burleigh Heads. Seminars and resident art competition (Judith Hart)

25 June

Release of Feasibility Study on Expansion of Goldbrige Services (Judith Hart)

25 June

Launch of Gold Community Fund (Judith Hart)

25-29 June

SCIVAA displays

25-29 June

St George Self-Help Substance Abuse Program. Displays, Gold Coast. Jenny Nelson 07 4625 5527.

25-29 June

DUNES displays. Tina Lace 07 5520 7900.

25-29 June

ATODS display, Logan Hyperdome Plaza

25 June

Open Day at Nambour Hospital. Special Health Services. Margaret Pultz 

25 June

Youth Training course, Brisbane (Judith Hart)

27 June

Alcohol and other Drugs interactive displays, City Place Cairns (Judith Hart)

27 June

Palm Beach Private Hospital, Gold Coast open day. Gail Cork 07 5534 4944

27 June

Launch of DRUG-ARM Alcohol Information Centre (Judith Hart)

28-29 June

Australian National Council on Drugs Meeting, Brisbane. Gino Vumbaca 02 6260 5791 

28 June

Seminar: Grief and Loss in Alcohol and Drug Dependance hosted by Dr Judith Murray (Centre for Primary Health Care, UQ)

Bill Parlet 07 3365 5443

29 June

Screening of Traffic followed by discussion on alcohol and other drug use in the community (Judith Hart)

29 June

Street Stall, Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug Service, Charleville.

29 June

"Up to Speed" forum opened by Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr. Jim Soorley, Highgate Hill. (Judith Hart)

30 June

June Golf Day, Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug Service, Charlesville.

30 June

Interagency Fun Day, Walla St Skate Bowl. (Judith Hart)