NSW: Zero tolerance policy on drugs to stay: Howard
By Denise McNamara
SYDNEY, Dec 31 AAP - The doubling of funds for drug rehabilitation programs did notrepresent a softening on the government's zero tolerance stance, Prime Minister John Howardsaid today.
As figures showed a significant drop in heroin deaths, Mr Howard announced fundingto divert drug offenders from jail and into treatment would jump to $215 million overfour years, up from $111 million in 1999.
"We have always said there are three ways of tackling the program: you educate peopleagainst starting drugs, you crack down very hard on people who peddle them and you tryand rehabilitate people who want to break the habit," he said.
"What I'm announcing today is an extension and a renewal of the rehabilitation elementbut in no way does it retreat from our `tough on drugs' philosophy, our zero toleranceapproach.
"Our attitude of zero tolerance has not changed," he said.
Mr Howard told reporters in Sydney he was encouraged by the NSW government's plan tofund a campaign to dissuade people from using marijuana.
"That represents something I've accepted for a long time, that is marijuana is badfor people, it can cause a lot of mental illness, it can cause depression, it can encouragesuicide and I think it's a wholly welcome development that the NSW government is seeingit that way now," he said.
Family Drug Support group spokesman Tony Trimingham estimated the death toll from heroinhad fallen to about 300, down from around 1000 two years before.
Mr Howard said the government could claim some credit for the drop.
"We are claiming some of the credit, but obviously it also has something to do withsupply from overseas," he said.
AAP dmc/hn/rcg/bwl
KEYWORD: DRUGS HOWARD NIGHTLEAD
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