DOCTOR SETS UP UNOFFICIAL DRUG FACILITY

A New South Wales psychologist is under investigation for allegedly setting
up a public heroin injecting room.

Fed up with finding more than 100 used syringes littering the garage of the
Lismore house he uses as an office, Bruce Difficy said he decided to set up
his own unofficial injecting facility in the northern NSW town.

The garage, in a run-down area on the outskirts of the town, is now
equipped with sharps bins, paper towels, seating and tea and coffee-making
facilities.

But it is likely to soon be closed down, with police and the local council
investigating the facility.

The unofficial injecting room has also been frowned on by the man behind
Australia's first legal heroin injecting room, Reverend Harry Herbert of
the Uniting Church. (The NSW Government-approved trial, at a cost of $1.8
million, is due to begin in Sydney's Kings Cross in October.)

"These people do need some help and support," Dr Difficy told ABC radio
yesterday. "If we are going to try to attempt to reduce ... crime,
mortality rates and increase the general health and wellbeing of people, we
really need to embrace the street culture and to tap into this difficult
client group, and influence a more positive change in behavior."

Lismore police crime manager, Detective Sergeant Max Tutt, said police were
investigating the claims.

"If it is the case, he has committed several offences under the drug misuse
and trafficking act," Sergeant Tutt said.

He said there had been no complaints from the public about the facility and
heroin was a problem in the town.

"It is of serious concern, like in most towns. Unfortunately, heroin use
has increased over the last few years. It is very, very sad."

Lismore City Council investigator Chris Soulsby said Dr Difficy had not
received council approval for the facility.

"We are investigating the matter. We are yet to speak to Dr Difficy about
his use of the land," Mr Soulsby said.

He said he was seeking legal advice as to whether the council could even
grant such approval,

The facility also came under attack from the Salvation Army.

"I would hope that the full force of the law is brought to bear," Salvation
Army spokesman Major Brian Watters said.

He blamed the upcoming Kings Cross heroin trial.

"Of course if you set up one legal avenue at Kings Cross ... when you open
one crack in the door, of course you are going to find there is a whole lot
of people who are going to take the law into their own hands and set up
their own injecting rooms."

Meanwhile, Mr Herbert said the backyard injecting room was not the answer.

"I understand his frustration," he said. "But I think in the end we need to
have properly organised injecting centres.

"If he (Dr Difficy) is trying to make a statement, I appreciate his
statement, but I don't think it will change anything."

Mr Herbert said Lismore had an increasing heroin problem and had already
been mentioned as a possible future location for a heroin injecting room.

"Lismore has always been mentioned as a place of high injecting drug use,"
he said.