HEROIN TRIAL LIKELY: EXPERT

Victoria is likely to have a heroin trial if there is a change of
leadership in Canberra this year, according to an expert who is about to
take a senior role in the Bracks Government's battle against drug abuse.

Paul McDonald, Victoria's Youth Substance Abuse Service founding chief
executive, has been appointed to develop and implement drug strategies for
the Department of Human Services.

He said it was "not a matter of if, but when" a heroin trial went ahead in
Victoria. Such a trial depends on a change in the federal political
climate. With a federal election looming, a controlled, medically
supervised heroin trial is a possibility in Victoria.

"When you look at the soul-destroying, damaging lifestyle for thousands of
young adults and their family groups, we have to have a trial," Mr McDonald
said. "But there's not much that can be done until the Commonwealth moves."

His comments come after police warned that Melbourne was in the grip of a
severe heroin shortage.

Senior Detective Nigel L'Estrange of Flemington CIU said there had also
been a drop in heroin purity that had led to a rise in violent crime.

The Youth Substance Abuse Service, dedicated to treating addiction in 12 to
21-year-olds, was set up as a result of Dr David Penington's report to the
Kennett government in 1996.

In his most recent set of recommendations on illicit drug abuse, handed to
Health Minister John Thwaites last November, Dr Penington urged the
government to press ahead with preparations for a properly controlled trial
of prescription heroin for registered addicts in anticipation of a change
of government or in the Liberal leadership.

Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out such a trial. The concept
attracted bipartisan political support in Victoria before Mr Howard vetoed
attempts to set up a prescription program in the ACT.