Liberal Vickie Chapman drafts law to lock up drug-addict teens for mandatory rehab
DRUG-ADDICTED teens could be detained and forced to undergo drug rehabilitation, under proposed laws to break the cycle of abuse. POLL: Is it a good idea?
DRUG-ADDICTED teens could be detained and forced to undergo drug rehabilitation for up to 12 months, under proposed laws to break the cycle of abuse.
Opposition Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman said she drafted the tough legislation after being approached by desperate parents, one mum describing her son’s drug battle as “hell on earth”.
The proposed laws, targeting under-18 abusers, would require a medical assessment declaring the detained person was suffering from an addiction and at risk of harm.
A parent, or other interested person such as a teacher or healthcare worker, could then apply for a court rehab order. “We’ve got a major problem – we need to help children break drug addiction as early as possible,” Ms Chapman told The Advertiser.
“I don’t want it to get that far for (young people) to have to be depressed, suicidal or psychotic for us to be able to deal with this.”
The proposal has the support of Karen Judd, whose son Jay died of an opiates overdose six years ago.
Jay had fought a 16-year battle with drug addiction.
However, Mrs Judd, 54 – who has since founded an addiction support group – said the law should apply to all ages.
“My son was 30 when he passed away ... there was nothing I could do to make him get help,” she said.
“When I was going through this with him, we had nowhere to go.
“A lot of times they do want to get help but there isn’t anywhere for them ... so he would detox at home.
“It was just hell on earth.
“I really, honestly hope they pass (the Bill) because someone has to do something.”
Ms Chapman said there was a shortage of places at existing treatment facilities and suggested a purpose-built centre would be needed. It would likely have to be funded and run by government.
“Options for drug treatment in South Australia are narrow and services are either very expensive or inadequate,” Ms Chapman said.
Experts usually suggest a rehab stint of at least 12 weeks to break a drug addiction, she said.
The length of time a young person would be detained under the proposed law would be decided by a magistrate.
It can cost up to $30,000 for a 12-week rehabilitation course at a voluntary facility.
Ms Chapman cited data from the National Ice Taskforce showing the proportion of people aged 14 to 19 using the drug had risen from 0.4 per cent in 2007 to 1.2 per cent in 2013.
The Federal Government has allocated almost $300 million to the taskforce’s four-year strategy to improve treatment, after-care, education, prevention, support and community engagement to tackle abuse of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice.
Ms Judd said a successful rehabilitation facility, located 30km from Naracoorte, had been operating until recently but the building was now empty.
She suggested funding from the Ice Taskforce could be used to reinstate the service.
“Instead of extending our prisons, why don’t they build detox or rehab centres,” Ms Judd said.
“We can’t expect these people to get back on the straight and narrow on their own. They need help.”
Ahead of this year’s federal election, South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon suggested part of the Ice Taskforce funding be used for a pilot mandatory drug rehabilitation service in Mt Gambier.
Senator Xenophon said abuse of crystal meth was so bad in the state’s South East that it was necessary to consider “detaining (users) for detox and rehabilitation”.
The proposed pilot program would begin with about 25 people, referred by courts or “committed” by concerned family members under a mechanism similar to a mental health order.
Ms Chapman will speak on her Controlled Substances Act (Youth Treatment Orders) Amendment Bill in Parliament today.