Pubdate: Fri, 30 Apr 2004
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News
Contact:  http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283
Author: Edith Bevin

JUNKIES PAYING $60 FOR 6C TABLET

Territorians on health benefits are making more than $1000 a week
dealing drugs to junkies.

The NT Drug Squad confirmed last night it was aware of several people
who are illegally on-selling their legally prescribed morphine-based
drugs such as MS Contin.

Many of them are getting the drugs under the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme for as little as $3.50 per prescription and selling the pills
for more than $60 each.

MS Contin is typically sold in 20 or 60 tablet packs.

A pack of 60 bought under the benefits scheme equates to a cost of
about 6c a pill.

The father of one junkie said his daughter, a mother of three,
regularly spent her entire pay on getting a hit.

"I was prescribed MS Contin once when I was injured -- I didn't like
the effect they had on me so I returned the 18 I had left to the
chemist -- my daughter was wild when she found out.

"She started screaming at me -- I pay $60 a tablet for those and
you've just wasted 18 of them.

"She spends her money on the drugs and then tries to tell us that
Centrelink has stuffed up her payment, she steals from her family,
she's prostituted herself to get the money for a hit.

"It breaks your heart."

The father named dealers to the Northern Territory News -- their
details have been given to police.

He said he had approached people he knew had sold prescription drugs
to his daughter before to appeal to them to stop.

"I've fronted one about my daughter -- he had a knife in his hand when
I approached," he said.

""These are people who are supposed to be sick, who are supposed to
need these drugs but they're making money out of them. They're
powerful drugs.

"I know that making it tougher would make life harder for legitimate
users but surely the greater good as far as the families of addicts
and even the police are concerned would be to get tough."

Drug Squad boss senior sergeant Les Martin said only a small
percentage of people prescribed morphine-based drugs were involved in
dealing. "We do something when we get information."

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