HEROIN TRIALS: GALLOP VOWS TO MOVE FORWARD ON NEW DRUG LAWS

HEROIN should be prescribed to addicts in a government-run trial, the
Community Drug Summit urged yesterday.

The summit said the State Government also should consider softening
cannabis laws and allowing safe drug-injecting rooms.

The 100 delegates voted overwhelmingly for drug law reform at the end of
the five-day summit at Parliament House. Not one of the 45 recommendations
from the summit's nine working groups was rejected.

Premier Geoff Gallop said the Government would take the recommendations
very seriously but it would be improper to comment on any of them. "We are
not going to balk at the requirements of moving forward in this area," he said.

Summit co-chairman Fred Chaney said the Government would be under pressure
to act.

The summit recommended compulsory drug education in WA high schools and an
expansion of drug treatment programs.

Sixty-one delegates backed prescribed heroin trials, 37 voted against and
two abstained. The call for safe injecting rooms was backed by 63
delegates. Seventy-two favoured cannabis law reform.

Under the proposed heroin trial, a small number of addicts who had not
responded to other treatment would be provided with the drug by their
doctor. Delegates wanted the trial to include detailed evaluation and full
clinical and social support.

The proposed cannabis law reform relates to an extension of the cautioning
system.

Other recommendations included more funding for better drug support
services, specialised detention centres for drug users and recognition of
drug users"cultural differences.

The State Government does not have the power to introduce a prescription
heroin trial. Only the Federal Government can approve the supply of heroin
to the States.

Prime Minister John Howard said last week that there would be no heroin
trial while he was in charge and those who advocated it were misguided. He
was commenting after National Crime Authority chairman Gary Crooke QC
called for a trial, saying police alone were powerless to stop the drug trade.

Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said he would view favourably any
such plan from the States.

State Liberal leader Colin Barnett said his party maintained great
reservations about increased drug availability through policies such as a
heroin trial.

Assistant Police Commissioner Tim Atherton said officers should meet drug
users as part of their training. Officers needed to be taught how to see
them as people rather than criminals.

The summit's recommendations will be handed to the State Government by the
middle of next month. The Government is expected to respond by October 19.