Mothers lament lack of aid for addicts

A mother says her murdered son would still be alive today if he had been sent to rehabilitation for his P addiction instead of prison.

The woman - who asked to remain anonymous for fear of jeopardising the coming murder trial - told the Weekend Herald her son became involved with crime because of his addiction to methamphetamine and other Class A drugs.

He went to jail once for drunk driving and came out in debt to a gang, which led to a burglary conviction.

She arranged to have him admitted to a rehabilitation centre with the court's approval, a plan backed by his lawyer but turned down by the judge.

Last year he was murdered. His mother said she was sure the gang was responsible but she also blamed the lack of treatment available.

"For my son a court-ordered sentence to a rehabilitation centre two years ago may have saved his life and the subsequent pain and loss our family has suffered."

Another mother says her son got into P through cannabis use and petrol sniffing. By the age of 20 he was in prison for offences committed to pay for his addiction.

"A huge disappointment was the lack of rehabilitation available to addicts in prison," she said.

"During his time inside he had no rehabilitation at all. Basically the whole time was spent watching TV and biding time till he was free again."

Her son had now accepted he had a drug problem and needed help, but was relapsing while he waited to get into a court-approved rehabilitation scheme.

She urged the Government to put P addicts into compulsory live-in rehabilitation, rather than jail.

The idea has been promoted by methamphetamine consultant Mike Sabin, who argues that it would cost money initially but save the country millions in the long run.

Youth Court judges are already trying a similar approach involving personal monitoring of young offenders with drug problems.

Last week Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft said he thought it likely adult courts would soon follow.

Justice Minister Simon Power told the Weekend Herald he and Prime Minister John Key were urgently looking for improved treatment services for P addicts.