This is an archive of both published and unpublished papers. It should be understood they do not contain up-to-date information and are included only for potential historical value or research purposes.
Swensen, Greg. (2008)
A study of convictions for drug offences in WA, 2002 – 2006.
This unpublished paper was written in June 2008 and contains an analysis of summarised data to understand and identify trends in drug related convictions recorded in the lower courts in WA over the five year 2002 – 2006.
The paper provides both annual and quarterly breakdowns of counts of convictions for charges laid under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 in relation to Section 5 offences (offences concerned with premises, implements & utensils), Section 6 offences (offences concerned with prohibited drugs) and Section 7 offences (offences concerned with prohibited plants).
Within each of these three categories of offences, the paper also includes a breakdown of the number of charges by gender, age group, type of court, drug group and conviction outcome.
Click here to view or download a PDF version of this paper [508k]
Swensen Greg. (1983)
Criminal convictions & psychosocial variables of 765 drug abusers who sought treatment at William Street Clinic, January 1979 – December 1982.
This paper was presented at 53rd ANZAAS (Australian New Zealand Association for Advancement of Science) Congress, Perth, WA, 16-20 May 1983.
Click here to view or download a PDF version [40k] of this paper.
Swensen, Greg. (1995).
Drug offender diversion: A review of some of the issues
This unpublished paper discusses the establishment of formal diversion schemes for drug dependent offenders & canvasses a number of advantages of these schemes, including minimisation of the stigma and ostracism associated with conviction.
The paper also outlines a number of reservations about diversion schemes, including they may be experimental in nature, been setup for non-therapeutic purposes or to access Commonwealth funded health services.
Click here to view or download a PDF version [176k] of this paper.
Allbrook, Malcolm. (1981)
Survey of facilities and services for drug users in Perth, Western Australia.
The report presents the results of a survey of facilities for the treatment and rehabilitation of those using legal and illegal drugs, except alcohol.
The impetus for commencing the survey came from the establishment of a therapeutic community in Perth, Natural High., which after a year of operation was .not functioning according to expectations.
Two reasons were put forward by staff a.t Natural High and members of its sponsoring committee to explain the apparent lack of appeal to potential residents –
- Inadequate finance had prevented both. the establishment of a facility which had suitable-accommodation and therapeutic space and the employment of enough trained and experienced staff.
- The existence of the, Alcohol and Drug Authority oral methadone program which was perceived to have decreased the appeal of Natural High program.
However, it was believed by members of the Alcohol and Drug Authority’s Therapeutic Community Committee, a body set up to explore the potential for the establishment of drug free residential treatment programs, that further explanation could be given for the disappointing results of the first year of operation.
- The existence of a likely clientele for drug free residential treatment may not have been adequately established.
- The assumption that all persons receiving methadone treatment for opiate addiction were potential applicants to a therapeutic community may have been erroneous.
- The low number of referrals from other agencies may possibly be interpreted as showing a lack. of confidence in the level of expertise. of the staff.
- It did not have a well defined treatment programme that was known to be relevant to the needs and characteristics of drug users in Perth.
- It appeared to be preoccupied with offering a service to heroin users, when the usage of other drugs, for example, barbiturates, sedatives, hypnotics, anti-histamines and hallucinogens, was a problem which appeared to involve a much larger number of people
Note: The research covers the initial period of the operation of Natural High, which subsequently was renamed and reconfigured as Palmerston Farm, operated by the Palmerston Association (Inc).
Click here to view or download a PDF version [3.7MB] of this paper.
Rousset, Françoise, Light, Susan & Swensen, Greg. (1983)
A survey of 23 women with children in methadone treatment in Perth, Western Australia.
The survey sought to establish some of the common problems and circumstances of female addicts with children attending the William Street Clinic (operated by a public methadone program by the Alcohol and Drug Authority).
It involved obtaining a detailed account of the female addicts including: marital status, family background, circumstances of pregnancy (age of mother at birth of first child; number of abortions and miscarriages; breastfeeding), extend of family support they receive for their children, care of children, financial circumstances, types of services they use in the community and the services they would like to have provided.
Click here to view or download a PDF version [133k] of this paper.
Ronn, Stefan & Swensen, Greg. (1993)
HIV/AIDS survey of drug treatment services in Perth, Western Australia, April 1988
During the course of Stefan Ronn’s student placement in early 1988 at William Street Clinic (WSC), the Alcohol and Drug Authority (ADA) outpatient facility, he undertook a survey of the HIV/AIDS policies of representatives of drug programs in Perth, which were either non-government agencies or were closely involved with the non-government sector.
The information derived from this survey gives a snapshot of how these agencies understood their need to carefully balance their dominant treatment objective of abstinence through detoxification, structured counselling and other rehabilitative strategies, against the risks faced by their clientele when these objectives were not achieved.
Click here to view or download a PDF version [249k] of this paper.
Webb, Jane & Swensen, Greg. (1989)
A descriptive study of women with children who participated in the Western Australian methadone program in June 1989
The report describes a sample of female clients who participated in the Western Australian (WA) methadone program in the month of June 1989.
It looks at the number of women with children, the number and ages of the children, the drug-using status of partners of the women and their main regular sources of income.
Click here to view or download a PDF version [105k] of this paper.