STOPPER ON DRUG CENTRES

Methadone clinics will be barred from operating in the Fairfield CBD wider
planned amendments to Fairfield Council's Local Environment Plan (LEP).

And clinic operators applying to set up shop outside the city centre will
have to meet strict criteria currently being thrashed out by Fairfield
councillors.

The new plan will effectively prevent the owners of the Barbara St Clinic
moving elsewhere in the Fairfield CBD under another company name.

Operators Abdus and Mary Samad last week failed in their hid to overturn a
District Court ruling ordering the clinic to shut down.

In a unanimous decision by the State Court of Appeal last Tuesday the
Samads were given four months to close the private clinic.

"From my understanding (the Samads) now have four weeks to seek leave to
appeal to the High Court of Australia," Fairfield Mayor Bob Watkins said.

"I understand obtaining that right is very difficult so I expect we've seen
the end of it but who knows."

A day after the Court of Appeal ruling the State Government announced
sweeping reforms to the way drug treatment centres would be managed in future.

Premier Bob Carr said the State Health director-general had written to
every clinic in the State informing them of the new measures, due to come
into effect by 2002.

Failure to meet the new standards could result in the loss of opention
licences, Mr Carr said.

"There are too many cases of indifference to community concerns,
particulady in relation to addicts gathering around clinics and increases
in petty crime," Mr Carr said.

"There are also cases of poor record-keeping, insufficient counselling of
patients and inadequate staff training."

The Samads did not return calls from the Advance.

Under the new guidelines drug treatment centre operators must:

* Provide adequate case management of all patients.

* Commit to dealing with community concerns including the possible
installation of closed circuit televisions.

* Provide a waiting room or courtyard to accommodate patients off the street.

* Improve training requiremnents for clinic staff.

* Provide adequate documentation and monitoring of patient outcomes.

* Meet stringent new requirements relating to takeaway doses.