31/05/2025
Not my usual sarcasm
I wrote this 8 years ago! Dont think much has changed
THIS HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME TO WRITE OUTLINE DRAFT. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED: JUST DONT NAME CALL ETC Reject: systems that are not working such as our current drug laws with lack of facilities to cater for citizens of Australia who require some form of drug rehabilitation. We need more organisations to assist those in need; not prison sentences. Many problems faced with potentially why many are in the prison system, relate to crimes linked directly with being addicted to some form of drugs whether they be legal or illegal substances.
Statistically researching the outcome of the cases “why?” is a waste of tax payers’ monies where there is a high probability with causal links that illicit drug taking is a major reason for those caught up in the courts and prison systems regarding crimes that have been committed.
There are lack of organisations to assist people experiencing drug related and gambling addictions and why?
Because there is no financial benefit in dollar signs to actually assist people to get away from addictions. The ironic part is: each time a case is adjourned – it costs money, and each time a person is sent to prison – it costs money. Lawyers are making money though (just a thought). The tax payers are the ones who pay for this. So why cant this money be spent on rehabilitation facilities instead of wherever it is currently going?
There is however, lots of money to be made in the gambling industries and drug related consumption which includes alcohol and ci******es. If the government were serious about having a more productive society; than gambling facilities / poker machines from every single hotel would be removed. Besides, that is what casinos are for.
The government can claim all they like that they will continue to raise the prices for alcohol and ci******es and justify that by making it more expensive that this is a deterrent; but clearly it is not.
Imagine what would happen if we decided to completely change all the current operational systems.
Imagine if governments decided to spend monies on the above-mentioned problems offering programs of support instead of being fined various monies (where quite often the fines are being paid back via Government benefit allocations with a small percentage required to pay each fortnight). Instead of paying a fine, part benefits or wages are paid as part of the rehabilitation requirement. The current operational system is ‘the Government is paying back the Government’ in a broad sense. The logic makes no sense.
In the short term, all suggestions offered do not appear to make any money to make a profit for any government; nor would it appear to comfort some of society with the belief that many should be in prison. By not paying attention to the bigger problem of the very real drug problem in Australia; this is not economically viable for society in the long term if this is continuously swept under the rug and or viewed as someone else’s problem.
Australia should be working in the best interest of the ‘people’; not short term quick fixes; as clearly this current thinking is not working. The quick fixing approach is actually amplifying all the problems; not making it better.
Financial and medical situations are worsening where we have mental health related issues and sadly some members of society are taking their own lives which is linked to lack of genuine support and programs and yet again some form of drug related problem whether legal or illegal. Families are not being listened to in relation to mental health issues and health facilities are turning away potential patient’s due to many reasons where funding in these areas are inadequate.
There is the attitude where one cannot assist clients until they are willing to accept help. However, due to unstable mental health and addiction problems where there are cases that they will not get help; there is a high probability that they are unable to recognise the concerns that families etc can clearly see. Committing crimes associated with obtaining drugs is just one indication that their addictions are affecting others around them.
In the long term, the benefits far outweigh the short-term current effects.
Imagine a society that valued assisting peoples with drug related issues to actually get off substances. The benefits in the long term are a society where productivity would increase because the focus would then be to further learning capabilities with educational skilled courses offered to obtain employment and other life changing prospects.
By all means go after the drug traffickers and laboratories, but not the ones taking them to punish and fine them. They need help with rehabilitation centres; not prison.
If governments were serious there would be drug prevention programs that start in primary school onwards along with other programs which are linked to health and well-being as is outlined within the ACARA framework in the education system. Currently though it seems to be that as we are a market orientated system that does not match our educational institutions, where programs that should be offered, are not.
Australia should be looking at models from other countries that appear to be having more success instead of following examples borrowed from America or similar countries that clearly are not working.
