Pubdate: Fri, 04 Mar 2005
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2005 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Contact:  http://www.abc.net.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/34

DEMOCRATS JOIN CALLS FOR RAVE DRUG RESEARCH

The Australian Democrats have joined calls for the South Australian 
Government to help set up a program to test drugs at rave parties.

Doctors from the Royal Adelaide Hospital have been doing instant tests of 
drugs at rave parties for the past four years.

They now want a permit to allow them to transport samples to the forensic 
science centre for detailed analysis, hoping to learn more about treating 
overdoses and preventing them.

Democrats leader Sandra Kanck says it will save lives.

"When the pills are tested, and they show up as bad the kids choose not to 
take them," she said.

"This isn't encouraging people to take drugs and when the results show that 
kids use less of them as a result of the testing, this is a positive way to 
go."

Health Minister Lea Stevens says she has rejected the request from the 
Royal Adelaide Hospital on two previous occasions because the program 
involves handing drugs back to people after testing.
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MAP posted-by: Beth