BUSH'S HEROIN PROBLEM KEEPS A LOW PROFILE

The heroin contagion that had spread to Victoria's regional centres was
thriving out of the public's sight, community leaders said yesterday.

Ms Beth Davidson, a local councillor from Anglesea, said there was a
serious heroin problem and places where you could buy "really good stuff"
but there was little evidence on the street of people using drugs.

"You have to be involved with people who are involved to know. You wouldn't
see used syringes around or people off their face and because of that there
is a perception in rural Victoria that it doesn't exist."

Surf Coast Shire Council Mayor Mike Barrow said yesterday the drug had
spread to seaside towns. "Heroin is available in all communities. It would
be unfair to say there is a heroin problem in Anglesea and Barwon Heads but
it would be naive to say there is not some use."

He said he would support greater policing along with recognition that
heroin was a health problem and more resources needed to be devoted to
detox services, counselling and rehabilitation.

Wangaratta Councillor Anthony Griffiths said heroin use was increasing.
"The drug problem here is more underground - you don't see syringes on the
streets like you do in Melbourne but that could lead to a false sense of
security," he said.

Ballarat City Councillor David Vendy said there was a big drug problem in
Ballarat, and it was increasing. "Certainly a lot of doctors in town will
tell you that. It's the same in all the regional areas - Bendigo, Geelong,"
he said.

"We could do with more police in Ballarat ... There is a lot of
drug-related crime."