Sir, I am writing to express my concern regarding the potential detrimental effects the proposed changes in the bail laws will have on people with drug problems. I am particularly surprised by the silence of the medical profession on this issue. The Government, by stipulating substance abuse as one of the criteria on which bail can be refused, is in effect criminalising what is considered a medical condition.
The traditional medical approach to addiction is rooted in the disease model which views substance misuse, like alcoholism, as a disease. The more progressive medical approach has modified this concept to encompass the broader psychosocial aspects, but still clearly defines substance misuse as a disorder. The current Diagnostics Statistical Manual, which is widely used by doctors in the classification of psychiatric conditions, clearly details substance misuse as a disorder.
My own background is in addiction counselling and while I do not adhere to the disease model, I am nonetheless strongly opposed to the proposed changes in the bail laws. The aim of the current Government's health promotion policy is to encourage drug users to engage in treatment. However the inclusion of substance misuse as one of the criteria on which bail can be refused will only serve to discourage drug users from declaring their drug problem for fear of discrimination in the court system.
My experience of working with drug users has shown that the period spent on bail can be an extremely important and beneficial time. It can act as a motivator for drug users to take the first step in seeking treatment and beginning seriously to evaluate their positions and make positive changes in their lives. Particularly given the current difficulties the penal system has in managing the drug problem it would seem more appropriate for the Government to seek better ways of dealing with drug users outside of prison, rather than committing more into the system.
International research has clearly demonstrated that money spent on drug treatment is much more cost effective, both in terms of reducing the incidence of reoffending and illicit drug use, than imprisoning drug users. Currently as much as 80 per cent of crime in Dublin is reputedly drug related. Rather than spending huge sums on prison building schemes, it would seem more sensible to invest in treatment programmes which will divert drug users from crime, and to develop education and prevention initiatives to address the wider issues of social and economic deprivation which underpin so many young people's involvement in drugs and crime in the first place. - Yours, etc.,
Project co-ordinator, The Merchant's Quay Project, 4 Merchant's Quay,
Dublin 8.