Pubdate: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 Source: Canberra Times (Australia) Contact: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/ Author: Colliss Parrett ACT PRISON SHOULD HAVE DETOX AND REHAB UNIT MICHAEL MOORE'S desire for needle exchanges in an ACT prison (CT, 30 July, p.3) reveals a restricted ideological conception of health betterment for illicit drug users. Why not an Australia-wide first in our prison by having a dedicated, fully equipped, segregated detoxification and rehabilitation unit. In the absence of exceptional circumstances, judges could require addicts to undergo the most successful detox and rehabilitation treatments (measured by medium/long-term abstinence rates, not increasing syringe exchanges or drug substitution). The community would be saying 'we want to help you' and 'you now have your chance' and reject criticism from ideological spokespersons supporting illicit-drug decriminalisation and legalisation. We help others with substantially impaired judgement faculties, despite themselves, e.g. alcoholics and those contemplating suicide et cetera. Opiate addicts should be similarly entitled, with the treatment at the door of the disease. Short term offenders could be referred to outside rehab centres for ongoing treatment. In this context Assemblians can marry successfully the judicial and medical arms of government. Cost is a factor, but if we find millions for endangered flora and fauna, why not for endangered humans? Each untreated heroin addict costs the ACT taxpayer at least $120,000 a year, so 125 would cost $15 million a year - what we may soon spend one-off on a swimming complex. A reformed addict costs nothing. COLLISS PARRETT Bruce - ---