SUPPORT FOR DRUG TRIALS INCREASES

DOCTORS joined police, drug reformers and prosecutors in demanding heroin
trials yesterday as the Federal Government hardened its opposition.

A National Crime Authority suggestion that trials be considered exposed
deep divisions across the political and social spectrum. The Federal
Government said it would never change legislation to allow heroin
importation for legal use and warned the NCA against trying to influence
drug policy.

Prime Minister John Howard said states allowing addicts to legally inject
would be vigorously opposed by his Government.

"We would not give any aid or comfort to any state that considered
conducting free heroin trials," Mr Howard said.

He said that the war on drugs was not being lost and heroin deaths were
declining.

"The idea that we should give in is not one that I accept," Mr Howard said.

His deputy, Peter Costello, said the NCA should stop interfering in
government policy.

"My view is that the National Crime Authority should be fighting crime and
it ought to be leaving policy matters to the elected representatives," Mr
Costello said.

The Australian Medical Association said the Government was playing politics
with heroin addicts' lives.

President Kerryn Phelps said the war on drugs had reached crisis point.

Heroin trials would reduce break-and-enters and drug-related violence as
well as save lives, Dr Phelps said.

"We really are at a stage in our history where we have to make some
courageous decisions about illicit drugs and look at things that might
work," she said.

"The time has come for political courage . . . unfortunately, that is a
rare commodity in the lead-up to the election."

Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform said Mr Howard's rejection of the
NCA was frightening.

Its president, Brian McConnell, said Mr Howard was allowing addicts to die
and crime to increase.

The New South Wales and South Australian directors of public prosecutions
said trials could work if they helped stop demand.

NSW director of public prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery said he was
disappointed in Mr Howard's refusal to consider legalising heroin or
setting up trials.

"I'm rather dismayed at the petulant and dismissive response of the PM,
which shows that he is not prepared to apply his mind in that rational
way," Mr Cowdery said.

South Australian DPP Paul Rolfe said Australia needed to discover if heroin
trials worked.

"If we can take away their supply domination, perhaps by medically
prescribed supply, that may help," Mr Rolfe said.

Health Minister Michael Wooldridge said he understood how the war against
drugs could appear to be overwhelming.

"I understand people feeling desperate and feeling overwhelmed," Dr
Wooldridge said.

"But as a doctor, I know you can make things worse as well as make things
better."

The NCA recommended heroin trials be examined partly because it said the
war on drugs was being lost, with most drug importations escaping detection.

But Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty rejected the
suggestion, saying police were having a significant impact.