NEW HEROIN TREATMENT TO BECOME AVAILABLE

A new drug to treat heroin addiction is expected to become more
widely available in Australia, with the approval granted by the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

The committee has recommended the Government place the drug,
buprenorphine, on the subsidised drug scheme.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has been involved in a
number of trials of the drug and says it has been found effective for
some people.

Spokesman Paul Dillion says the drug should be considered as one part
of a wider strategy that is needed to treat heroin addicts.

"There is no magic bullet when it comes to the treatment of opiate
dependents," he said.

"I think we need to maintain that belief that we really do need to
use a variety of different strategies and keep looking for new
therapies and keep testing them."