UN ATTACKS HEROIN INJECTING ROOMS

A United Nations report has criticised Australian States for attempting to
set up heroin injecting rooms in defiance of the Federal Government.

The report, to be released today by the UN's International Narcotics
Control Board, said "spreading heroin use" in Australia had led to a rising
death toll. The report said harm reduction should be part of a strategy to
deal with the problem, but the real focus for Australia should be on
measures to reduce the number of heroin abusers.

"Harm reduction should not become a goal in itself or be adopted at the
expense of a strong commitment to reduce both the supply of and demand for
illicit drugs," the report said. "Some States unfortunately challenge the
policy of the Federal Government and choose to support policies that run
counter to the treaty obligation limiting the use of drugs to medical and
scientific purposes only, by establishing heroin injecting rooms where
illicitly obtained drugs can be injected under supervision."

The report noted heroin prices had fallen and purity had increased while
heroin-related arrests had also risen since 1997.

A UN spokeswoman said the board believed that by opening heroin injecting
rooms the States would not help to reduce the number of heroin abusers.

The report also called on governments to reduce excessive and inappropriate
use of prescription drugs. The board said overuse of controlled drugs was
becoming a "socially accepted habit" in many developed countries. An
increasing number of patients were being treated with psychotropic
substances, such as benzodiazepines, without being diagnosed for mental or
physical disorders.

Benzodiazepines are used as tranquillisers and hypnotics and are usually
prescribed for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, obesity and child
hyperactivity.

"The board is especially concerned that preference is given to quick
solutions, whereas long-term negative effects are often disregarded,
underestimated or subordinated to short-term cost savings," the report said.

"It is alarming that a considerable number of the patients, suffering from
social pressure, were treated with psychotropic substances without having
been diagnosed for real mental or physical disorders."

The board said it attributed responsibility to government officials, health
care professionals, pharmaceutical companies and the patients themselves,
and called for educating all parties in a more rational prescription
culture as well as the promotion of ethical behaviour in the promotion of
medical products.

The chairman of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee, Professor
Lloyd Sansom, said two committees had been set up to look at misuse of
prescribed drugs.