The House of Representatives in Australia, having investigated the drug problem for seven months, handed down 31 recommendations designed to stop drug addiction and abuse. Those who oppose the recommendations called them a ‘disgrace’ and ‘frightening.’ Yes, they’re pretty tough. But are they really too tough? Frankly, unless you live in a country where addicts are beating down the doors to get into drug rehab, I don’t think so.

Here are the highlights:

• Teenagers would be forced into drug rehab.
• If a child under five comes to the attention of child protection services due to parents’ drug addiction, the child would be adopted out – unless the parents could give the court just cause for doing otherwise. And, they don’t get them back.
• Methadone programs would lose their funding unless they can prove they’re actually getting people off drugs, not just substituting one drug for another – e.g. methadone for heroin.
• Harm reduction programs would have funding re-appropriated to drug rehab.

Yes, it’s tough. Those who oppose it say that drug addiction is a more complex issue than the seven-month investigation and report suggests. But when it comes right down to it, drug addiction, or not, is a choice. Just like every other thing we do in life: no matter how we’re coerced, each individual makes the decision to succumb, or not. And each of us can change our mind – no one controls that. And it isn’t as if drug rehab isn’t available to help us out.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.”

This bill probably won’t go through. Pity. A successful drug rehab program can get people off drugs and prevent a lifetime of suffering – for the addicts and for their families. Perhaps higher stakes would force the change of mind needed.

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