HEROIN DRY BREAKING

The heroin drought that has been affecting supply in Melbourne since late
last year may be about to break, researchers say.

Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre researchers believe there are early
signs that new supplies have hit the streets, and more could follow within
weeks.

"Our workers are telling us that extra supplies are about to hit the
streets, so it is a very dangerous time for users who have struggled to
obtain heroin since October last year," said Turning Point director
Margaret Hamilton, who prepared a briefing paper for this week's joint
sitting of State Parliament.

Professor Hamilton said little data was available, but up until last week
there had been eight overdoses this year. There have since been another three.

She said that users' tolerance may have been lowered by months of poor
supply or they may have been using substitutes that could compound the
effects of heroin.

The latest Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence figures showed a
"cap" of heroin in Melbourne was priced between $50 and $100 compared to
between $20 and $25 in 1999.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee will today consider a
recommendation to list buprenorphine, an alternative for methadone, for subsidy.