Pubdate: Sat, 31 Oct 1998
Source: West Australian, The (Australia)
Page: 30
Fax: +61 8 94823830
Author: Mark Irving
Note: Errors as in original - ed.

DRUG EXPERT URGES HEROIN TRIAL RETHINK

DRUG expert David Penington said yesterday that the push for a heroin
trial would continue because the need had not diminished.

The problem of illicit drug use was as bad as ever, if not worse,
Professor Penington said.

A Swiss heroin trial had been a considerable success, The Netherlands
was about to embark on a similar program and before long other
countries would follow, he said.

But Professor Penington conceded the issue was hard and unpopular for
Australian politicians, and the community needed to understand why a
different approach to combating illicit drugs was needed.

"It's not a simple open-and-shut issue, and it (heroin trial) makes
sense if we accept it as part of a step-by-step approach," he said.

illicit drug use could not be stopped simply by law
enforcement.

Professor Penington, the former head of the Victorian Premier's Drug
Advisory Council and now a drugs adviser to the capital cities' lord
mayors, will be guest speaker at tomorrow's launch in Perth of the WA
branch of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation.

Branch convener Jason Meotti said the foundation aimed to provide
bipartisan support for progressive drug law reform.

"Current policies have good intent but they are not having any impact
on the demand, or ply, of heroin," he said.

Mr Meotti was the architect of the controversial motion supporting a
heroin trial which was passed in August at the National Party's State
conference.

Party leader and Deputy Premier Hendy Cowan promised after the
conference that the motion would not be ignored.

Mr Cowan said it would be passed to State Parliament's justice
coordinating council, which he chaired.
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Checked-by: Patrick Henry