PLEA FOR CORONER TO PROBE ANTI-HEROIN 'WONDER DRUG'

A grieving mother is pleading with Coroner Michael Halliday and the State
Government to investigate possible links between the heroin detoxification
drug naltrexone and an increase in fatal overdoses in Queensland.

Trish Carroll, whose 24-year-old daughter Charmaine died of an overdose six
weeks ago, said yesterday that she, other parents, addicts and naltrexone
advocate Dr Stuart Reece -- who treats addicts at his Highgate Hill clinic
- -- deserved official answers that could prevent more deaths.

Naltrexone is seen by Dr Reece and many parents as the only hope for
drug-addicted children. But investigations by The Courier-Mail have
uncovered grave concerns among colleagues of Dr Reece that his prolific use
of naltrexone could be contributing to the spiralling overdose rate.

Naltrexone is a prescription drug which blocks the effects of heroin when
addicts shoot up, but leaves them more vulnerable to overdose and death if
they relapse.

Laws give Mr Halliday the power to inquire into the circumstances of any
death, and to make recommendations to prevent the recurrence of similar
deaths. It is understood Mr Halliday will act on Ms Carroll's plea to
explore the deaths of heroin addicts whose tolerance was lowered by naltrexone.

"It is not going to bring my daughter back, but if it helps save some other
families it has to be a benefit," Ms Carroll said.

"Would Charmaine be alive today if she had never had the treatment? I need
to know the answer.

"I didn't know all the risks, and I strongly suggest counselling to anyone
considering naltrexone because they have to be certain about it."

Ms Carroll -- who confronted Prime Minister John Howard in Brisbane the day
after her daughter died, because Dr Reece wanted her to lobby for
naltrexone -- said she feared deaths were occurring unnecessarily.

Another mother whose child overdosed after undergoing Dr Reece's naltrexone
program said: "Dr Reece believes he's working miracles with these young
people, and Heaven knows we were desperate enough to find someone we
thought could help.

"But with the benefit of hindsight I no longer believe he has all the
answers, and these young people who have died would have been better off
alive and still using."

Queensland's death rate from opiate overdose soared to 70 in 1999 after
averaging 38 in the previous five years.

Dr Reece -- who said he knew of 24 deaths among his almost 850
heroin-addicted patients since he began his naltrexone work in July 1998 --
agreed there should be a study to determine if there was a link.

Drug and rehabilitation experts including Professor John Saunders say
naltrexone only works for 5 to 10 per cent of addicts, exposing the others
to great risk.

But Dr Reece, a fundamentalist Christian, believes his work should
continue, and told The Courier-Mail: "If we were given the opportunity of
naltrexone for free, we could make everyone clean, give them an implant,
help them to learn and live again and preserve their lives."

Health Minister Wendy Edmond said she was very concerned about the issue,
and urged anyone with a complaint to put it in writing for investigation.