STUDY REVEALS OVERDOSE FIGURES

More than half of all heroin injectors in Australia have over-dosed, a new
study revealed yesterday. Heroin overdoses had more than doubled since
1990, the Australian Institute of Criminology study said. It also reported
that:

* More than a third of all heroin users overdosed in 1999-2000.

* In 1998 alone, 737 Australians between 15 and 44 years died from opiate
overdoses.

* In 1998 more than 180,000 people saw at least one heroin overdose.

It found as many as one third of those witnesses did not seek medical help
for the person overdosing.

AIC director Adam Graycar said heroin users were encouraged never to inject
alone, so that if they overdosed medical assistance could he sought.