XN000022-1981-07-03 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1981

BILL TO KEEP DRUGS CASES CONFIDENTIAL

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THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, WHICH SEEKS TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS ON DRUG ADDICTS KEPT BY THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ADDICTS (CRDA) AND ITS REPORTING AGENCIES, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY DRUG ADDICTS TO THE REPORTING AGENCIES AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED BY THE CRDA AND SUCH INFORMATION WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED EXCEPT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE ADDICT CONCERNED OR UNDER OTHER PRESCRIBED CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO BE PROTECTED UNDER THE BILL COVERS ALL INFORMATION IN THE RECORDS OF THE CRDA OR ITS REPORTING AGENCIES WHICH RELATES TO 1

* THE USE BY ANY PERSON OF DANGEROUS DRUGS-

* THE CARE, TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION OF ANY SUCH

PERSON- AND

* CONVICTIONS FOR OFFENCES INVOLVING DANGEROUS DRUGS,

+UNDER THE BILL, A NARCOTICS DIVISION SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, +SUCH RECORDS WILL BE IMMUNE FROM SEARCH AND FROM PRODUCTION IN COURT EXCEPT IN A PROSECUTION FOR AN OFFENCE CREATED BY THE BILL OR WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS EXERCISED THE POWER GIVEN TO KIM BY THE BILL TO ORDER THEIR DISCLOSURE.+

+THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN ORDER DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION IN SERIOUS AND COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THIS IS REQUIRED BY THE PUBLIC INTEREST, HE POINTED OUT.

ON THE NEED FOR CONFIDENTIALITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID DRUG ADDICTION WAS REGARDED AS A SOCIAL STIGMA AND MOST ADDICTS WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE IDENTIFIED, MUCH LESS SO TO BE RECORDED IN A GOVERNMENT REGISTER.

HE POINTED OUT THAT CONFIDENTIALITY WAS PROMISED WHEN METHADONE TREATMENT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED AND IT IS A CONTINUING NECESSITY TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN THE ADDICTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED CRIMES, AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME FORWARD FOR TREATMENT, WHICH IS THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING THEM OUT OF CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT.+

+ IF ANONYMITY IS NOT MAINTAINED, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED, +ADDICTS MAY BE DISCOURAGED FROM SEEKING TREATMENT, THUS THWARTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EXISTING VOLUNTARY TREATMENT PROGRAMMES.

IN ADDITION, THE RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE ADDICTS MAY BE AFFECTED AND THIS WOULD DEFEAT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF SETTING UP THE CRDA, HE ADDED.

/MOREOVER, THE