NCA CONSIDERS RADICAL DRUG TREATMENT PLAN

Australia's top law enforcement agency has called for the consideration of a
measure similar to a supervised heroin trial.

The National Crime Authority (NCA) has released a report on organised crime,
estimating the cost of illicit drug use to the Australian community is at
least $1.7 billion a year.

It said it would be worth considering allowing doctors to supply addictive
drugs to users from a government controlled repository.

NCA chairman Gary Crooke said it would attack the profit motive for drug
suppliers.

"It's very much a health matter that the medical profession treats those who
are dependent and addicted, that they do so in a way that would include
supplying drugs as a stepping stone towards weaning people away from
addiction," he said.