LEGAL GLITCH PUTS BIND ON HEROIN CLINIC

PROMISED money for George O'Neil's naltrexone clinic is being held up by
legal issues, putting pressure on the clinic's already stretched resources.

Clinic representatives were told at a meeting with Health Department
officials on Friday that a trust fund to be set up by the State Government
might not be used as direct funding for rapid detoxification using naltrexone.

Staff at the Subiaco clinic have been relying on the money coming soon to
help cover debts and treat a record number of patients.

The trust fund was announced a month ago but so far has not distributed the
money needed. It is expected to provide about $500,000 for the clinic.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration, a Federal group, does not recommend
that naltrexone be used in the kind of rapid detoxification programs run by
Dr O'Neil.

Naltrexone stops addicts getting pleasure from using heroin, removing the
incentive to use it.

Because the authority has not approved the procedure, the State Government
does not want its money to go directly to rapid detoxification. The State
fears it could be sued if things go wrong.

But Dr O'Neil is legally able to use his discretion to administer the drug
and says that he has used it on 4000 patients without adverse effects.

Dr O'Neil said he was confident an agreement would be worked out.

"They (the Government) are committed and I'm still hopeful we will be able
to draft a contract," he said.

A Health Department spokesman said the trust fund would still be used to
pay for other aspects of Dr O'Neil's clinic.

He said the money could be available within a few weeks and that the names
of the trustees would be announced soon.

Dr O'Neil said one effect of the fund was that it had dried up donations to
the clinic because donors thought its money troubles were over.

The Government is running a trial to determine the worth of naltrexone in
treating heroin addiction.