AMA BACKS INJECTING ROOMS TRIAL

Heroin injecting rooms and prescribed heroin for addicts should be tried as
possible solutions to the nation's drug problem, the Australian Medical
Association says.

AMA federal president Kerryn Phelps said in Perth yesterday a
one-size-fits-all approach would never be appropriate to help fight drug
addiction.

"The AMA has a very strong view on managing problems of drug addiction in
our community, and we feel that the more options available to people who
have problems of drug addiction, the better," she said

"I think that we need to pursue more trials related to things like
prescribed heroin, heroin injecting rooms, Naltrexone treatments -- looking
at a whole raft of different types of options."

Politicians should not be afraid to support trials, such as prescribed
heroin, because a trial did not mean a commitment.

"We have to keep exploring. It's important the public is not scared off,
the politicians are not scared off by the concept of a trial of anything to
do with helping drug addiction," Dr Phelps said.

"We need to look at supporting, as much as we can, treatment and
rehabilitation for people with addiction problems, so that it's easier to
get into a rehabilitation program than it is to score drugs on the street.

"Until we're at that point, we're not really addressing the drug problem in
Australia."

Her comments followed remarks by Anglican Church leader Peter Carnley that
injecting rooms and heroin prescription programs should be given trials as
part of a broad drugs strategy.

Dr Phelps said it was refreshing to hear such views from a senior clergyman.