HEROIN TRIAL WINS SUPPORT

A report commissioned by the Prime Minister's hand-picked drug advisory
group has recommended the introduction of a heroin trial.

Heroin addicts who failed to respond to other forms of treatment would be
best suited to a trial, in which they were given free pharmaceutical-grade
heroin under strict conditions, according to the report. The cautious but
controversial backing for a heroin trial was in the final paragraph of the
report on heroin abuse, released yesterday by the Australian National
Council on Drugs.

The report was prepared by researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol
Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. It says that, aside
from reducing crimes committed by heroin addicts, "injectable heroin
maintenance" could also reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other
blood-borne viruses.

But last night a spokesman for Mr Howard rejected the proposal, saying the
government's policies on drug abuse were working well. He was supported by
the chairman of the drug panel, Major Brian Watters, who is Mr Howard's
most trusted adviser on drugs.

Major Watters, a Salvation Army drug rehabilitation expert, told The Age
that the community could "get better bang for our buck" via other methods.

He said the council commissioned the independent researchers last year to
conduct the research. "I think they might have slipped that one in on me,"
he said.

The Heroin Overdose report says of a heroin trial: "Its principal
attraction is that it may increase the number of heroin users who are
attracted into and retained in treatment by providing them with their
preferred drug, heroin, by their preferred route of administration, injection."

In two papers responding to the report, the council did not comment on the
call for a heroin trial. Instead, it called for police, the families of
drug addicts, and drug and alcohol workers to be taught how to administer
the heroin overdose reversal drug, naloxone. It also called for naloxone
training for every Australian paramedic and for it to be available in every
ambulance.

Margaret Hamilton, a Melbourne drug rehabilitation expert on the council
who favors trials, said overseas evidence showed they brought positive
results. "My rationale is that we should try anything that will keep young
people alive."

The Prime Minister's spokesman said the government remained opposed to
heroin trials. "The encouraging reduction in overdose deaths appears to
reflect that the current policies are having an impact," he said. "The
government's approach is to provide a broad range of treatment and
rehabilitation options with a view to encouraging drug users to become drug
free."

Rob Moodie, chief executive of VicHealth and a member of the most recent
government drug advisory committee in Victoria, said: "It is important that
we really start moving beyond the politics and doing it. I think it's
unethical not to do it."

He said the Swiss experience showed a heroin prescription program had the
benefit of reducing crime, improving the physical and mental health of
addicts, and bringing stability into their lives.

Richard Tregeara, from Open Family, said it was "ignorant" of the
government to argue that the reduction in heroin deaths proved its drug
policies were working. "That's definitely not true ... It's because of a
disturbance in supply and an increase in the price of heroin and a
reduction in the quality."

Mr Howard's opposition to a heroin trial amounted to an "anti-family
stance", he said.

There are about 74,000 dependent heroin users in Australia.