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Drug abusers: Rehab v long-term imprisonment
Why focus on rehab is the way ahead
Changes to the law make distinction between addiction as an illness and as a crime, say experts, adding that long jail terms are not effective deterrent
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Inmates in the drug rehabilitation centre within Changi Prison Complex. Under changes to the law, the maximum length of DRC will be increased to four years, up from three years.
ST FILE PHOTO
The changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act send a signal that rehabilitation, rather than punishment, is the way to tackle the problem of drug abusers.
But a balance must be struck between viewing drug abuse as an illness and as a crime, say experts.
