Tobacco for mental patients

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32665, 22 July 1971, Page 14

Tobacco for mental patients

Sir, —Just what kind of a sick society are we living in, where a supposedly responsible Government could justify the termination of a free tobacco issue for mental hospital patients and continue to supply at 5c an ounce all the tobacco our penal institution residents can smoke or use as currency in various gambling pursuits? Furthermore, if any of these unfortunate

misunderstood guests of the taxpayer don’t feel disposed to do even a minimal amount of work, which quite often only entails keeping their own living quarters clean, they ate entitled—and indeed demand—a free tobacco issue. Just where do our priorities lie?—Yours, etc., EX-PRISON OFFICER. July 7, 1971. [The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) replies: “There have been many misconceptions about this matter. The position is that from April 1, 1970—that is, well over a year ago—the free issue of tobacco to patients ceased and gratuities to patients were increased to compensate for this. The object was to enable patients to select their own preferred brand of tobacco. It also had a therapeutic value in that it encouraged patients to learn to use money and spend it wisely. For your information, Government expenditure on allowances for psychiatric hospital patients for their personal use was $280,000 in the 1970-71 financial year compired with only $164,000 in the 1969-70 financial year.”]