Pubdate: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 Date: 12/21/1999 Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Author: Annie Madden Note: subjectline by MAP The UN International Narcotics Control Board and the Prime Minister, John Howard, are short-sighted when they say that the new proposed shooting gallery in NSW is contrary to Australia's treaty obligations. Australia's international obligations under the Single Convention will still be fulfilled when a medically supervised injecting room is opened. The assumption is that this treaty is capable of only one interpretation: that Australia under this treaty is obligated to continue the broad criminal prohibition of, and zero-tolerance approach to, drug use. This assumption, however, is false. Other interpretations are equally relevant: in particular, these treaties allow parties to these conventions the scope to adopt measures that move away from the policy of criminal prohibition towards that of harm reduction. The purpose of the safe injecting room is to save lives, reduce unsafe public injecting and improve the health of drug users, their families and the community in general. It is not to encourage drug use. The operators are not supplying drugs, but a safe place to inject. The community cannot turn its back on drug users simply because we have been unable to stop their demand for illicit drugs or prevent illicit drugs from being so readily available. The International Covenant on Social, Cultural and Economic Rights, ratified by the Australian Government, states that governments must recognise the right of all individuals "to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health", whether a drug user or not. Research into medically supervised injecting rooms established in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands has shown they reduce the number of drug overdose deaths, the spread of viral infections from drug users to the general population, the marginalisation and vilification of drug users and the level of injecting in public places. This will benefit the whole community. Annie Madden, Co-ordinator, NSW Users and AIDS Association, Bondi Junction