REHABILITATION 'A BETTER WAY'

The grandmother of a heroin victim believes a rehabilitation centre for
reformed addicts should be considered as a solution to the Border's drug
problem.

The kids are finding it, it's no good saying it's not available

Mrs Merryl Bathie-Hansen, who helps run a family drug support group in
Albury, does not believe a safe injecting room is needed because it is not
about harm minimisation.

She said a rehabilitation centre would be more helpful in dealing with the
problem.

"I think every large town or city should have a facility that could take in
rehabilitating drug users and somewhere the families can be close by," Mrs
Bathie-Hansen said.

A proposal for a drug rehabilitation centre in Wagga recently caused heated
debate among residents near the proposed site.

Mrs Bathie-Hansen, who assisted the proposal, realises similar concerns may
be raised in Albury-Wodonga.

"It would be a rehabilitation unit, not a drug-using centre," she said.

"There would be people receiving help for their withdrawal and the
assistance might be a low-level methadone program, but there would be no
drug use."

Mrs Bathie-Hansen said in the 18 months since her drug support group had
been operating, 70 families had been helped through fortnightly meetings.

She said it was important children were educated, as she knew of some as
young as 10 who were using marijuana.

"The kids are finding it, it's no good saying it's not available," she said.