AUSSIE DRUG INJECTING CENTER OPENS

SYDNEY, Australia - Behind frosted glass windows, Australian
heroin users injected themselves for the first time in an officially
sanctioned center that provides clean needles, counseling and medical
staff, authorities said Monday.

Australia's first supervised drug injecting center opened Sunday night
in the heart of Sydney's seedy Kings Cross strip-club district.

The church-run center, which features stainless steel booths,
free-syringe dispensers and a medical treatment room, is on an
18-month trial aimed at reducing drug overdose deaths.

According to recently released figures, less than one percent of the
nation's 19 million people used heroin in 1998. But the number of
users is rising while their average age falls.

Two-thirds of heroin users reported having overdosed on heroin, and
there were more than 14,000 hospitalizations nationwide attributed to
illicit drug use in 1997-98.

Medical director Ingrid van Beek said eight clients visited the center
during its first four hours Monday night. Staff anticipate up to 200
users will visit the center each day, and van Beek said many users
balked at the media presence outside the center.

Opponents of the experiment, which is sanctioned by the state
government and the police, said it will not stop overdose deaths and
will hurt tourism in the city.

New South Wales state opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski said the
heroin injecting room sent out the wrong message about drugs.

``The injecting room is basically telling our young people that if
they choose to start using illegal drugs they will be supported in
that decision,'' she said.

Similar facilities are running in countries including Switzerland,
Britain and the Netherlands.