USA Drug Policy Focus
The chief advisor on drug policy in the Obama administration visited Australia late in 2012 and disclosed the United States drug policy focus of prevention and recovery.
In addressing the political, government and community leaders, Director Kerlikowske highlighted-
- Opposing legalization of illicit drugs like medical cannabis.
- A national strategy to PREVENT harms from illicit drugs
- Education of young people about the truthful effects of drugs
- Emphasis on protecting children from illicit drug use in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- More funding for drug treatment that gets users off drugs
- Expanding drug courts to reduce addiction relapse
- The HOPE project to help prisoners on parole who fail drug tests
- Signing the 5 nation joint statement in support of humane and balanced illicit drug policy in Stockholm Sweden in May 2012
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
Australia needs to follow the U.S.A. and scrap its illicit drug maintenance programs, focusing on prevention, education and rehabilitation for users to get them free of their addiction.
That the U.S.A. has looked to Sweden for a successful drug policy should be followed here in Australia.
Australia can learn how to reduce its high illicit drug using population by court ordered and supervised drug rehabilitation.
