Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jul 2006
Source: Border Mail (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 Border Mail
Contact:  http://www.bordermail.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1017
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

GREENS IN A HEROIN TRIAL PLAN

CLINICALLY produced heroin would be imported into Australia to trial 
a new treatment for long-term addicts under the Victorian Greens drug 
policy released yesterday.

Supervised heroin injection rooms, such as one running in Sydney's 
Kings Cross, would also be trialled in Victoria while the policy also 
proposes to scrap all criminal penalties for drug use.

The production, sale or trafficking of illicit drugs would remain an 
offence, but users would only face a court order requiring them to 
participate in a health scheme.

Greens Victorian Upper House candidate Colleen Hartland, who unveiled 
the policy at a needle exchange in Footscray, said the proposals 
would 'minimise the harm and save lives'.

"It is time to step back from the emotional debate and work to 
implement programs that will effectively tackle the problems 
associated with legal and illegal drugs,"  Ms Hartland said.

The heroin trial was needed for those addicts who, through their 
long-term use, had become resistant to methadone-based treatments, she said.

"'It's not the decriminalisation of heroin,"  Ms Hartland said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman