FREE HEROIN OFFERED IN CITY

First On Continent

Vancouver heroin users have become the first in North America to be given
free prescription heroin as part of a controversial drug trial which began
yesterday.

The North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) started treating
just three drug-users, but will eventually recruit 157 people for the
two-year study.

"Today, the treatment stage of the NAOMI study begins," said spokesman Jim
Boothroyd. "The clinical trial is fully up and running."

"NAOMI is the first clinical trial in North America of prescribed medical
heroin."

The participants will be split into two groups -- one receiving heroin, the
other methadone -- to find out if heroin is better for addicts who've
failed at methadone or abstinence.

The heroin users will attend the heavily-secured clinic at 84 West Hastings
three times a day, seven days a week, to be given their fix in a
safe-injection room.

"The site has the security requirements of Fort Knox," said Boothroyd.
"There's very little heroin on the site, and the site is extremely secure."

Methadone users will come twice a day to drink their heroin substitute.

The participants get free drugs and medical care, but will only make $150
over the trial by filling out a half-dozen questionnaires.

The synthetic heroin is made in Europe, and is stored in a secret location.

NAOMI's clinical head, Dr. David Marsh, said the heroin will be a measured
dose, under nurse supervision.

"This will be the first time in Canadian history that physicians are
prescribing heroin for the treatment of heroin dependence."

Kim Kerr, executive director of the Downtown Eastside Residents
Association, said it's time to stop complaining about addiction, and start
treating it.

"People who are addicted to heroin should be treated like anyone with a
medical condition," he said.