HEROIN TRIAL WINS SUPPORT AT DRUG SUMMIT BUT NOT FROM OPPOSITION

The Western Australian Opposition has maintained its stance against heroin
prescription trials and supervised injecting rooms despite the options
receiving support at the Community Drug Summit.

Sixty-one people at the summit approved a trial of heroin prescriptions for
addicts who have failed in other treatments or are unlikely to enter treatment.

Nearly two-thirds of summit delegates voted in favour of considering
injecting rooms as part of the State Government's new policy on drugs and
called for the abolition of criminal charges for minor cannabis offences.

The Opposition's spokesman on drugs, Simon O'Brien, agrees some cannabis
laws are unrealistic, but is not in favour of other recommendations.

"The one that we have a difficulty with is the one relating to heroin
trials and I want to restate our opposition to that," Mr O'Brien said.

"I think as the debate develops in respect of that particular
recommendation you will see a lot of community concern about that as well."

The Western Australian Government is due to respond to the recommendations
by mid-October.