CHURCH-RUN HEROIN INJECTING CENTRE IN AUSTRALIA A SUCCESS-

Independent Review

SYDNEY (CP) -- A church-run heroin injecting centre in Sydney's red-light
district has saved lives and taken addicts off the streets, said an
independent report published Wednesday. But Australia's prime minister
scathingly condemned the project.

At the centre, run by a branch of the Protestant Uniting Church, drug
addicts inject themselves under the supervision of medical staff trained
and equipped to treat overdoses and provide counselling. The addicts bring
their own heroin, but the centre's services are free of charge.

The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney's notorious Kings Cross
nightlife district was set up as a trial project in May 2001 by the New
South Wales state government. It sparked protests from anti-drug
campaigners and some conservative groups.

The report said the centre had helped save lives and reduce crime.

Prime Minister John Howard condemned the project, saying the state
government get no co-operation from his conservative federal administration.

"I've never supported heroin trials and I've never supported heroin
injecting rooms and this government never will," he told reporters.

Supporters have argued the centre would reduce overdoses, educate users,
increase treatment and improve the seedy street scene in Australia's
best-known red-light district. Opponents have said it would encourage drug
abuse and crime.

A recent report - by a committee of five people including health and
rehabilitation experts and the head of the state's crime research
bureau - found that the centre had treated more than 300 drug overdoses
with no fatalities.

The report said drug-related crime in the area fell, and recommended the
centre continue operating on a monitored trial basis.

"This is the biggest good news story in the last 10 years," said Lee
Rhiannon, a Greens Party legislator in New South Wales' parliament. He
called on the government to open more centres throughout the state.

State government minister John Della Bosca said he would urge authorities
to continue the trial.

Similar officially sanctioned injecting rooms operate in other
countries, including the Netherlands and Switzerland, but Sydney's
so-called "shooting gallery" is Australia's first.

The report said there were 56,861 visits to the centre with an average of
15 visits for each of the 3,810 registered clients. Heroin was taken by 61
per cent of users, and cocaine by 30 per cent. Other drugs made up the rest.

The centre made 1,385 written referrals for clients for treatment and
counselling. Nearly 300 were confirmed to have been followed through.