NO 'MAGIC SOLUTION' TO DRUG ABUSE

THE day George O'Neil's naltrexone clinic closed because of a lack of
funding a Federal parliamentary inquiry into substance abuse was told there
was no magic solution to the problems plaguing the community.

Members of the family and community affairs committee, in Perth
investigating the social and economic cost of drugs, had visited the
Subiaco clinic on Tuesday. Questions about the rapid detoxification program
dominated a day-long public hearing held yesterday.

Committee chairman Barry Wakelin said they had spent three days in WA
collecting evidence.

The committee - which is undertaking the first national drug inquiry in 20
years - would make recommendations in 12 to 18 months, he said.

Representatives from the WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office, WA Network of
Alcohol & Other Drug Agencies, National Drug Research Institute, Outcare,
Mofflyn and the Cancer Foundation of WA presented oral evidence to the
committee yesterday.

WADASO executive director Terry Murphy said he hoped the parliamentary
inquiry would recognise that there was no magic solution to substance abuse
problems. "It's very hard to get excited about 100 different strategies,
it's much easier to look at one or two," Mr Murphy said.

"But drug strategy is about the 100 different initiatives going on."

Mr Murphy said naltrexone was an important initiative but it was only one
type of treatment that suited a particular group of people.

"I think it's our job and the media's job together to help people
understand that we need a comprehensive range of strategies," he said.

In its submission, the Cancer Foundation of WA called for a 20¢ levy
on every pack of cigarettes to help cut the number of deaths caused by smoking.

Meanwhile, Opposition drug strategy spokesman Alan Carpenter said the State
Government was putting lives at risk by not funding Dr O'Neil's clinic. He
said the Government had not honoured its promise to supply $500,000 to the
clinic through a trust fund.

The Health Department is currently setting up the trust, which will help
fund naltrexone programs in WA. Legal problems prevent it supplying
naltrexone for use in rapid detoxification programs directly to Dr O'Neil.

Police Minister Kevin Prince said that 53 people had died from heroin
overdoses in WA this year, a figure that had remained stable for several years.

He said this was a good result, given the increased availability and
strength of heroin in WA.