It is clear that the present prohibition policy on narcotic drugs is not working. It is not reducing the number of addicts _ indeed it might be increasing them. It is not treating the health problems of addicts. It is making it more difficult for addicts to lead a reasonably normal life while they get off their habit. But worse than this, the prohibition policy has created a very high-price black market in drugs. The amounts of money involved are so large that they have corrupted a significant part of the law-enforcement structure. The Royal Commission into the NSW police force has shown the insidious, corrupting nature of the heroin trade. It turns addicts to crime to pay for their habit. It raises so much money for dealers that they can bribe police so they are not prosecuted. Stiffer penalties and drug seizures only seem to drive up the price and make the problem worse.
This week, however, evidence has come in that shows the community _ at least in the ACT _ is awake to the ineffectiveness of prohibition.
The Australian National University and the Australian Institute of Criminology reported after four years’ work on the risks and benefits of providing addicts with heroin. It recommended that a pilot study with a limited number of users be run first, before considering a wider program. They also conducted a survey on community attitudes to the trial. It showed majority approval. A majority believes it will result in less crime; less drug dealing on the streets; less police corruption; less spread of AIDS; and better health for addicts.
It would be easy for the Government to dismiss the possibility of a heroin trial. Yesterday it showed courage in not doing so. The Labor Party has not dismissed this report, but has been fairly luke warm on drug law reform. Perhaps they might be persuaded by the survey which shows that it might be an electoral plus rather than a liability: half would not change their vote and 35 per cent would vote for a party that introduced a trial.
The Government will put the report to a task force including police, the judiciary, community groups and representatives of users. It will respond in three months.
It is important that ACT residents look at this with an open mind. The controlled way in which the heroin is to be prescribed does not suggest approval or condoning of drugs. To the contrary, it suggests that the dangers of heroin are such that it can only be used in a controlled way and that it is important to get control of heroin use by getting users out of the dangerous and corrupting uncontrollable black market in the drug.
At present Australians have no evidence with which to compare the present failed system. It is important that this project go ahead so that that evidence can be gathered, under very strict conditions. Given the failure of prohibition, there is nothing to lose. The Federal and NSW Parliaments should pass the necessary legislation to allow the trial to go ahead.
Provided there is adequate security over the heroin stocks, ACT police have given the trial qualified support. Indeed, given the events in NSW, any other stand is untenable.
Drugs on tightly controlled prescription will not be a panacea. There will be problems. But it will surely be better than the corruption, over-dosing and crime of absolute prohibition. There will, of course, be losers if this trial is successful _ corrupt police and drug dealers.