NEEDLE INJURIES MAY BE OVER

ACCIDENTAL needle-stick injuries are likely to end under new standards for
the development of retractable needles which are to be drawn up.

Ministers dealing with drug issues from around the country met in Perth
yesterday and agreed to develop new standards as well as a national heroin
strategy - which may mean little in practice, given one is in place in WA.

Heroin overdose accounts for 9 per cent of all deaths nationally in the
15-44 age group.

WA Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes represented Police Minister Kevin
Prince at the meeting at the Hyatt. Mr Prince is still recovering from an
illness,

WA Drug Abuse Strategy Office chief Terry Murphy said after last night's
meeting that some retractable needles were used by ambulance drivers now but
were not foolproof.

The new standards could help lead to the development of a better product
which could be given to injecting drug users but could prevent children and
others injuring themselves on discarded needles.

The New South Wales Labor Government also pushed for naltrexone, an opiate
blocker, to be made cheaper by being put on the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme.

The first patient was given the drug in a trial starting in Perth yesterday
at Dr George O'Neil's Subiaco clinic.