Source: Hobart Mercury (Australia) Contact: http://www.themercury.com.au/ Copyright: News Limited 1998 Pubdate: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 Author: Francesca Hodge AIRLINE AID FOR DRUG USERS Syringe disposal measure draws flak but AMA backs it DRUG users who shoot up in aircraft toilets will soon be able to dispose of their used needles safely. In a world first for an airline, Ansett is installing syringe disposal bins in the toilets of all its aircraft. Joondalup MP Chris Baker, who chaired the State parliamentary select committee inquiry into drugs, was amazed at the decision. "It's the thin edge of the wedge," he said yesterday. "My concern is that it's another small step towards the normalisation of drug use." The Salvation Army's Major Brian Watters, who chairs Prime Minister John Howard's National Council on Drugs, said it sent out a message of surrender and tacit approval of drug abuse. Ansett spokesman Peter Young said the airline's 80-strong international and domestic fleet would be provided with the bins by the end of the year. In the past two years, an increasing number of used syringes had been found in toilets. One had been jammed in a seat. "It's our clear responsibility to protect our staff and customers from the possibility of being pricked and the safest way of ensuring that is to provide the bins," Mr Young said. "Drug users on the whole do not have a responsible attitude to their own health but research shows there is a high degree of compliance when it comes to using bins when they are made available." Mr Young defended airport security that allowed drugs and needles to get through. Plastic syringes contained the same amount of metal as a watch hand and were small enough to conceal, he said. While cigarette smoking was easily detectable, drug taking was not. If a passenger was found carrying illicit drugs, they would be handed over to police. A Qantas spokesman confirmed the airline was reviewing the effectiveness of syringe bins but would soon provide "sharps containers" in its medical kits carried on domestic flights. The containers would be used when a passenger, such as a diabetic, wanted to dispose of a needle safely. The Australian Medical Association gave its support to Ansett's decision. State president Rosanna Capolingua-Host said it was a realistic approach to the drug problem. "You have to remember they are not protecting the drug users, they are protecting the innocent people on the planes." she said. The AMA did not condone illicit drug use but wanted to see the public protected. But Mr Baker did not believe all injecting drug users would make use of the bins and there was no certain corresponding benefit to public safety. He said Ansett would he better off directing its staff to check the toilets after each passenger left and if a syringe was found, search them for drugs. - --- Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson