DRUG USE 'NOT A CRIMINAL ISSUE'

Prime Minister John Howard should "wake up, get real" and support a heroin
trial, the Australian Democrats have argued.

Leader Natasha Stott Despoja said she backed the idea put forward by the
National Crime Authority.

Mr Howard has said there will be no heroin trial while he is in government,
claiming figures show a sharp decline in heroin deaths while seizures of
illegal drugs are up.

But Senator Stott Despoja said heroin abuse was not a criminal issue but a
health problem.

The NCA said yesterday a government-controlled heroin project could help
break the hold of organised crime.

Senator Stott Despoja said: "My plea to the prime minister is wake up, get
real. Just say no to zero tolerance.

"The Australian Democrats recognise that the issue of drug use and abuse in
our community is not a criminal issue.

"It's a health issue for those people who are addicted and those people who
are dying, particularly our young people.

"We believe we should investigate a range of options, especially those
where we have good, overseas examples to show that they may work."

Other countries recognised that zero tolerance did not work, she said.

"The notion of zero tolerance is a joke," she said.

Mr Howard was quite stubborn on the issue and determined not to implement
alternatives, Senator Stott Despoja said.