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Thursday, 17 April 2008 20:47 |
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The Illicit Drug
Diversion Initiative (IDDI) provides a nationally consistent framework
through which police and courts may use to refer eligible drug offenders
towards appropriate assessment, education or drug treatment. This
report presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of the IDDI in rural
and remote Australia, drawing on quantitative and qualitative evidence
to explore the extent to which the stated objectives of the IDDI have
been achieved in rural and remote locations.
Based on the
qualitative information gathered during the study, the most effective
processes or characteristics in IDDI-funded programs in rural and
remote Australia were observed in court diversion programs which:
- targeted young people
- allowed drug diversion for alcohol as the primary drug of concern
- were supported philosophically and practically by magistrates and drug and alcohol service providers
- had
well-established communication mechanisms between magistrates, drug and
alcohol service providers and other relevant stakeholders at the local
level
- involved a considerable period of treatment (for example, three months)
- included high-quality case management to assist in addressing clients’ broader social and health issues
- had access to an appropriate range of treatment options
- were able to support clients with barriers to treatment, most notably transport barriers
Read full text of the report at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10496.
Source: Australian Policy Online
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