We refer to the article “Halfway houses may face crunch with new scheme” (Channel NewsAsia, Sep 22).
New policy means not enough places in half-wayhouses?
It states that “Halfway houses could face a crunch in the years ahead, with more convicted drug offenders likely to come their way as part of the Mandatory Aftercare Scheme put in place in July this year.
This means there might be fewer slots available for drug abusers who check themselves in for help before they get caught. Checks show that there have been more such walk-in clients in recent years.
Walk ins are not arrested?
Drug abusers who seek help at halfway houses voluntarily are not arrested immediately – provided they are not on the Central Narcotics Bureau’s (CNB) wanted list. Instead, their details are sent to the CNB and they are referred to the Institute of Mental Health, which will administer a detox programme.
Halfway houses subsequently take these abusers in for six- or 12-month stay-in programmes. They are also subject to urine tests by the CNB.
Those who fail face arrests, the bureau said.”
Why make it harder for drug abusers?
– We read with dismay the above. Instead of helping more drug abusers to voluntarily check in to a half-way house – we appear to be making it harder for them – as some may find that no slots are available.
Why not provide more resources?
Why do we not provide more financial or other assistance to half-way houses so that there will be sufficient slots?
How much financial assistance and help do half-way houses get now?
If you are a drug abuser?
Put yourself in the place of a drug abuser. What happens when you walk in to halhway houses and find that there are no slots for you?
Try to carry on at the best that you could and hope that you will not be arrested.
Mitigate a problem may create a bigger one?
Ultimately, we should focus on helping drug abusers, since we have a “no tolerance” policy.
Otherwise, in trying to mitigate one problem (reduce the recurrence rate by sending them on their release to halfway houses) – we may be creating an even bigger problem.
S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian
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