Pubdate: Mon, 31 May 1999
Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia)
Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers
Contact:  http://mercury.illnews.com.au/

DOCTORS BACK HEROIN TRIAL, SAFE INJECTING

Australian doctors yesterday put themselves on a collision course with the
Federal Government by backing a heroin trial.

Prime Minister John Howard has opposed such a trial since it was first
mooted by the ACT in 1996.

But the Australian Medical Association national conference yesterday voted
in favour of establishing trials of heroin on prescription as part of a
comprehensive approach to treating addicts.

AMA vice-president Sandra Hacker said the trials had to be considered as
part of the battle against drugs.

The doctors also gave cautious support to the safe injecting rooms being
considered by the NSW Government as one of the recommendations of the recent
drugs summit. 

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