NZ Drug Foundation / NZ Society on Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Media release: 19 February 2009

Treatment for drug offenders a smarter option than criminalisation

The New Zealand government could save millions of dollars by diverting New Zealanders with drug problems out of the court system and into the health system, says a major international expert visiting New Zealand for the Healthy Drug Law Symposium (being held in Wellington 18-19 February).

Gino Vumbaca, Executive Director of the Australian National Council on Drugs, says courts and prisons are costing New Zealanders hundreds of millions of dollars and do little to make New Zealand safer or to help addicts overcome their problems. Diverting them to treatment instead would reduce crime and drug use in New Zealand and slash police and court costs.

“Prisons are poorly equipped to provide positive treatment outcomes, and inmates often come out with worse drug problems than they had when they were sentenced. This leads to a ‘revolving door’ effect where they often quickly re-offend and end up back in jail because their core problems aren't being tackled.

“If we can intervene and stop the never ending cycle of drug use and offending, not only do we save communities millions, we also make them safer, and help thousands of people – and their families – to have a better life.”

Mr Vumbaca says there is ample Australian evidence to show that diversion produces better results than prison.

·         In just three years of operation the Cannabis Cautioning police diversion programme in New South Wales saved 18,000 hours of police time, $400,000 in police costs and an estimated $800,000 for local courts.

·         Participants in the NSW MERIT diversion programme were far less likely to re-offend than those who did not complete the programme, and an estimated twice the amount spent was saved.

·         Participants in Queensland’s police illicit drug diversion programme reported increased employment and improved physical and mental health.

·         South Australian police diversion participants reported a 40 percent decline in drug related offending with similar declines reported across the country.

Mr Vumbaca says in Australia it is now costs up to $73,000 a year for a prisoner to be in jail, while it only costs around $30,000 a year for treatment in a residential rehabilitation centre.

New Zealand Drug Foundation Director, Ross Bell, says our current drug legislation needs to change to reflect what we have learned about the benefits of drug treatment in recent years.

“The Misuse of Drugs Act was drafted in 1975 when the prevailing view was that we could punish drugs out of existence. We've been jailing the same drug users over and over again the last 30 years and it hasn't made a scrap of difference.

“We now understand the best way to reduce drug production – and the crime and misery accompanying drug use – is to reduce demand by helping people addicted to drugs overcome dependence, and become healthy, contributing members of society.”

The Misuse of Drugs Act is currently under review by the independent Law Commission. Ross Bell says this provides a rare opportunity for New Zealand to bring its drug law into the 21st century.

The invitation-only International Drug Policy Symposium – Through the Maze: Healthy Drug Law, is being held in Wellington as a precursor to a March meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna where the direction of global drug policy for the next 10 years will be set. Delegates will also discuss domestic issues, including the review of New Zealand’s 1975 Misuse of Drugs Act.

More about Gino Vumbaca

Executive Director, Australian National Council on Drugs

“We have far too many people appearing before the courts or in prison that would greatly benefit – and productively contribute to society – from an opportunity to address their drug dependence. Courts and prisons cost us hundreds of millions of dollars and have far too many returning customers. If we can intervene with treatment and stop this never ending cycle of drug use and offending we will not only be saving millions of dollars for the community, we will also be assisting thousands of people and families to a better life.”

Gino Vumbaca has extensive experience in the HIV/AIDS and drug and alcohol fields both in Australia and internationally. He has worked as the Manager of HIV/AIDS and related services with the NSW Department of Corrective Services, in a variety of drug and alcohol centres as a counsellor and was responsible for coordinating the establishment of the NSW network of needle and syringe exchange programs for the NSW Health Department.

Mr Vumbaca also continues to provide advice on prisons, HIV and drug issues for international organisations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization.

ENDS

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