PRESCRIBE HEROIN ON TRIAL: DPP

THERE is a pressing need for a trial of medically prescribed heroin, rather
than safe injecting rooms, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas
Cowdery said last night.

Mr Cowdery said the "Olympic circus" in Sydney had delayed the introduction
of the heroin injection room trial in NSW. "Twelve months after the drug
summit, and probably hundreds of deaths later, we are little closer to the
commencement of operations of a supervised injecting place," he said.

"The difficulties being encountered in this area highlight the
irrationality of having supervised injecting places, but unsupervised and
decidedly unsafe and unlicensed supply of drugs.

"There is a pressing need for a trial - not of injecting premises, but of
medically prescribed heroin."

Mr Cowdery said there was no legal impediment from international
conventions for Australia to establish safe injecting rooms.

A "properly conducted and supervised clinical trial involving use of an
illicit drug" might not be contrary to UN conventions, he said.

Community leaders met at the NSW Parliament last night to discuss the
outcome of last year's drug summit.

St Vincent's Hospital alcohol and drug services director Alex Wodak said
the summit had been a success but any judgment on its results should be
reserved for a further three years.

"One result is clear - the drug summit did not damage the NSW Government
politically," he said.

"Their political opponents, still supporting a get-tough approach, continue
to bump along the bottom. Communities no longer fall for populist rhetoric
about drugs."

Dr Wodak said the success of the summit would be judged by the amount of
money spent to expand and improve drug treatment and prevention.