EXPERTS BAFFLED AS HEROIN DEATHS PLUMMET

The number of heroin deaths in NSW has dropped dramatically - from 491
suspected fatalities last year to 296 this year - buoying drug and alcohol
workers but baffling researchers.

The statistics also show that non-fatal overdoses have fallen, despite
evidence that the cheapest and most potent heroin is now available on Sydney
streets.

The statistics are contained in a report, the Illicit Drug Reporting System,
commissioned by the Federal Department of Health and scheduled for
publication today. It provides the only Australia-wide snapshot of the four
main drug markets: heroin, amphetamines, cocaine and cannabis.

The University of NSW's Dr Shane Darke, a senior investigator on the
project, says the fatality figures - which have yet to be released formally
by the Bureau of Statistics - appear to provide some good news for NSW.

"For the first time, fatalities in NSW appear to be dropping where
[previously] the trend has been going up and up and up," he said. "Suddenly
we have this big drop ... these are suspected heroin overdose fatalities
which go to NSW Health analytical labs. They are convinced now that it is
not a mistake and it is also consistent with non-fatal overdose figures."

Dr. Darke said the drop was impossible to explain definitively. Purity
levels could not be the answer, he said, because they had remained static,
at about 62 per cent, for several years, and the number of deaths was
continuing to climb in Victoria.

"It's a puzzle. It is possible that information on the dangers of poly-drug
use is starting to get through to people, it's also possible that people are
improving their response to overdoses or it could be the recent public
debate in NSW. To be honest, we don't know," he said. "There is unlikely to
be one explanation. It's probably a few factors and we have to see if it
continues. I don't think we have to explain it but it is certainly good
news."

The report says this year's results show that in the past five years the
price of heroin has halved, first-time users are younger, more people are
injecting sooner and most recently a potent crystalline derivative of
amphetamine, known as ice or shabu, is emerging in smaller deals across
Sydney.

"The trend towards the use of crystalline methamphetamine in all
jurisdictions represents the emergence in this country of a powerful new
form of the drug. International research indicates that the widespread use
of crystalline methamphetamine is likely to be associated with adverse
psychological and physical side effects." the report found.

The report also revealed that:

The price of heroin has dropped to a historic low of just $25 a shot in
Sydney, almost half the price found in other cities, including Melbourne.

Methadone injection in NSW has dropped, possibly contributing to lower
overdose figures.

A gram of heroin costs $300 in most Australian cities, compared with just
$200 a gram in Sydney.

The average purity of heroin seizures is 53 per cent, compared with 65 per
cent last year.

Amphetamine powder (speed) is cheapest in South Australia and Victoria,
while average purity is 22 per cent, up from 16 per cent last year.

Cocaine remains cheapest in NSW, at $200 a gram, with similar purity to last
year of 48 per cent. It is rare in most other States and is much easier to
obtain in NSW.

Cannabis costs $20 a gram and $300 an ounce in NSW. It is cheapest in South
Australia and potency is medium to high in all States and Territories.

Cannabis users are getting younger in NSW, ACT and in the Northern
Territory.