SHORTAGE OF HEROIN 'SAVING LIVES'

A heroin drought is turning users to other drugs and even treatment to
escape their addiction.

The shortage of a heroin across the nation is causing prices to spiral and
the number of overdoses to fall.

The heroin capital of Cabramatta in western Sydney has seen use of the drug
plummet as much as 74 per cent as a result of price rises of up to 75 per cent.

Before Christmas it took only 15 minutes to "score heroin". Now, an addict
can spend up to four hours searching for a hit.

In WA the number of suspected heroin overdoses has halved. Users say the
price has doubled and even trebled.

As more addicts search for treatment or other drugs, experts claim the
results shatter the myth that addicts will continue to use heroin
regardless of the price and vindicate policies aimed at limiting supply.

"The popular wisdom is that because users are addicted, it didn't matter if
the price went up - they would just spend more and more money," specialist
Don Weatherburn said. "That has not happened."

But Dr Weatherburn said it also proved the point of those who advocated
better access to rehabilitation as an avenue of escape from the heroin
market. "In that regard both sides are right - but all we can say for sure
is that the drought has saved a lot of people's lives," he said.

NSW Bureau of Crime Research and Statistics surveys show addicts paying
more for lower quality heroin since Christmas, a 59 per cent drop in the
number of needles and syringes handed out, fewer overdoses and a sharp
upturn in those seeking methadone treatment.

A worker at the WA Substance Users Association told The West Australian
that the drought in Perth had deepened since the end of February and blamed
the Taliban confiscation of opium in Afghanistan.

But he said there was some movement in supply which suggested the drought
might break soon.

The National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University also said there
were signs that the number of people seeking treatment for addiction had
risen - but so had the number turning to amphetamines.

Research assistant Kim Hargreaves said WA drug hotlines were taking more
calls for help regarding amphetamines and fewer for heroin.

Australian Federal Police paraded the second-biggest haul of ecstasy
yesterday: 150kg in 430,000 tablets worth more than $30 million found
hidden in boxes of marble tiles on a boat which was tracked by Australian
authorities from its departure in Malaysia.

Five Sydney people and one Hong Kong man were arrested.