ADDICTS RESORT TO OTHER DRUGS DURING HEROIN SHORTAGE

The current national heroin shortage is being felt among users, with some
injecting other drugs such as cocaine and painkillers to help them through
withdrawal.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre questioned 200 users about
the shortage.

The shortage is forcing some users off heroin and on to drugs such as
cocaine and benzodiazepines, to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal.

In some cases, users are injecting pill-form benzodiazepines, which the
centre's Paul Dillon says puts them at risk of serious injury or even death.

"Vein damage of course continues to be a major problem and people injecting
drugs which are not of great quality and have been cut with other
adulterants is also another issue," he said.

He says another concern is a predicted surge in the number of heroin
overdoses, when the shortage ends.