NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today announced a major boost in funding for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users. 

"It's time for a commonsense strategy on drugs which enforces the law and has strong treatment and rehabilitation measures in place to get drug users back on track," Mr Debnam said.

"Our fight against drugs is tough, but I won't sacrifice future generations by sending the message that illicit drugs are OK," he said.

"Labor simply hasn't put sufficient resources into enforcing drugs laws or into education and treatment.

"We must strongly discourage young people from taking drugs, help those who do take drugs get off them, and get drug dealers and organised crime gangs into gaol.

"Specifically, the NSW Liberal/Nationals will:

• Treat drug users by adding $60 million to existing funding to boost places in treatment and rehabilitation programmes, including an extra 10,000 Naltrexone treatment places, 100 residential treatment places and 20,000 outplacement withdrawal treatments, as well as support for non-government organisations such as the Salvation Army, Mission Australia, WHOS and the Tedd Noffs Foundation;

• Educate families and people at risk by providing $5 million for an innovative and hard hitting campaign targeting falsely labelled 'recreational' drug use among 15 to 29 year olds;

• A 15% increase funding for the NSW Crime Commission by providing an additional $10 million over four years to increase the strength of the special crime unit to target organised crime;

• Enforce drug laws with an extra 1720 police and stronger search powers;

• Close Labor's heroin injecting room and divert the funding into treatment programmes; and,

• Review Labor's take home methadone policy, particularly for parents with young children.

"I will enforce existing drug laws and absolutely reject any moves by Labor or the Greens to decriminalise drugs such as ICE," Mr Debnam said.

Mrs Skinner said an AIHW report from last month also showed drug prevention activities now make up only 5.2% of NSW’s public health activities budget, down from 10.2% in 1999-00.

“And NSW spends less than half what most other states spend on anti-drug activities: in 2004/05 NSW spent just $5.81 per person, compared to $7.81 in Victoria, $11.27 in Queensland and $15.81 in the ACT.

"We need to improve the information flowing through to young people about drugs and provide support to those who fall victim to them.

"That's why we've announced a dramatic increase in the drug treatment programmes to rescue drug users and provide them with the support they need to stay off drugs.

"Our community-based approach includes additional support for groups such as the Salvation Army, Mission Australia, and the Tedd Noffs Foundation."