Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jun 2001
Source: Age, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 The Age Company Ltd
Contact:  http://www.theage.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5
Author: Darren Gray, And Chloe Saltau

HEROIN TRIAL WINS SUPPORT

A report commissioned by the Prime Minister's hand-picked drug advisory 
group has recommended the introduction of a heroin trial.

Heroin addicts who failed to respond to other forms of treatment would be 
best suited to a trial, in which they were given free pharmaceutical-grade 
heroin under strict conditions, according to the report. The cautious but 
controversial backing for a heroin trial was in the final paragraph of the 
report on heroin abuse, released yesterday by the Australian National 
Council on Drugs.

The report was prepared by researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol 
Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. It says that, aside 
from reducing crimes committed by heroin addicts, "injectable heroin 
maintenance" could also reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other 
blood-borne viruses.

But last night a spokesman for Mr Howard rejected the proposal, saying the 
government's policies on drug abuse were working well. He was supported by 
the chairman of the drug panel, Major Brian Watters, who is Mr Howard's 
most trusted adviser on drugs.

Major Watters, a Salvation Army drug rehabilitation expert, told The Age 
that the community could "get better bang for our buck" via other methods.

He said the council commissioned the independent researchers last year to 
conduct the research. "I think they might have slipped that one in on me," 
he said.

The Heroin Overdose report says of a heroin trial: "Its principal 
attraction is that it may increase the number of heroin users who are 
attracted into and retained in treatment by providing them with their 
preferred drug, heroin, by their preferred route of administration, injection."

In two papers responding to the report, the council did not comment on the 
call for a heroin trial. Instead, it called for police, the families of 
drug addicts, and drug and alcohol workers to be taught how to administer 
the heroin overdose reversal drug, naloxone. It also called for naloxone 
training for every Australian paramedic and for it to be available in every 
ambulance.

Margaret Hamilton, a Melbourne drug rehabilitation expert on the council 
who favors trials, said overseas evidence showed they brought positive 
results. "My rationale is that we should try anything that will keep young 
people alive."

The Prime Minister's spokesman said the government remained opposed to 
heroin trials. "The encouraging reduction in overdose deaths appears to 
reflect that the current policies are having an impact," he said. "The 
government's approach is to provide a broad range of treatment and 
rehabilitation options with a view to encouraging drug users to become drug 
free."

Rob Moodie, chief executive of VicHealth and a member of the most recent 
government drug advisory committee in Victoria, said: "It is important that 
we really start moving beyond the politics and doing it. I think it's 
unethical not to do it."

He said the Swiss experience showed a heroin prescription program had the 
benefit of reducing crime, improving the physical and mental health of 
addicts, and bringing stability into their lives.

Richard Tregeara, from Open Family, said it was "ignorant" of the 
government to argue that the reduction in heroin deaths proved its drug 
policies were working. "That's definitely not true ... It's because of a 
disturbance in supply and an increase in the price of heroin and a 
reduction in the quality."

Mr Howard's opposition to a heroin trial amounted to an "anti-family 
stance", he said.

There are about 74,000 dependent heroin users in Australia.
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