Pubdate: Fri 24 July, 1998 Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia) Contact: DRUG COURTS NOT THE SOLUTION IN FIGHTING the drug menace we have to be open to innovation and look at anything that offers hope. However, I believe the proposed system of drug courts (Daily Telegraph, July 23) raises more questions than it offers solutions. Firstly, there are insufficient detoxification and rehabilitation places for those who voluntarily seek treatment, with waiting lists extending up to three months at some centres. Secondly, it is commonly accepted that people cannot be forced into treatment for any illness and, therefore, it is hard to accept the supposed success rate of 96 per cent. Voluntary treatments have a success rate of around 10 per cent on average so it is difficult to see an achievement of better than this in a compulsory system. Real innovation would be to take drug use completely out of the crime area and put it where it belongs - in the health sector. Tony Trimingham Family Drug Support Willoughby - --- Checked-by: Melodi Cornett