HEROIN USERS NEED NARCAN, SAYS CORONER

The State Coroner yesterday recommended the introduction of a limited
Narcan trial to help reduce Victoria's growing heroin death toll.

Graeme Johnson said Narcan, which is used to revive people who have
overdosed, should be given to a small number of heroin users who had been
educated on the effects and effectiveness of the drug.

Mr Johnson made the recommendation as part of an investigation into the
heroin deaths of 25 Victorians.

The investigation, which began in July 1998 at the behest of Chief
Inspector John McCoy of the drug squad, seeks to identify risk factors and
formulate strategies to reduce drug deaths in Victoria.

Mr Johnson yesterday delivered his findings and recommendations on the
deaths of David Borg, 25, David Eberhardt, 32, Sally Jessup, 29, Clinton
McLeod, 27, Baskel Sammut, 30, and another man whose name has been suppressed.

In a written finding to the court, Mr Johnson said the ready availability
of heroin, combined with the often lethal habits of heroin users -
including poly-drug use, injecting alone and the reluctance of some users
to utilise ambulance treatment - increased the risk of overdose and had led
to a steady increase in the number of heroin-related deaths.

Last year, 359 Victorians died from heroin overdoses, compared to 49 heroin
deaths in 1991, he said.

Mr Johnson said an "imaginative, realistic and innovative" response to the
problem was required.

"To have any chance of tackling the issue we must face the problem with a
level of cooperation combined with understanding and compassion for those
who are addicted," he said.

Mr Johnson criticised federal and state governments and the medical and
pharmacy professions for not doing enough to stop doctor and pharmacy
"shopping" by addicts - identified as a factor in the deaths of many users.
This was despite two coronial recommendations that measures be taken.

Mr Johnson said the absence of an integrated national system to stop
addicts from "shopping" meant drugs such as benzodiazepines - potentially
lethal when mixed with heroin, and widely used by addicts - were readily
available.

Mr Johnson said the combined effects of heroin and benzodiazepines - such
as Valium, Rohypnol and Mogadon - and heroin and alcohol had caused the
majority of drug-related deaths in recent years.

He said that deaths involving heroin alone were unusual.

Speaking outside the court, Chief Inspector McCoy said the coroner's
findings "typify the work that's gone in by numerous agencies involved in
the heroin fight and I think only good can come out of what's contained in
the report."

"The Victoria Police are ready to look at any innovative means that will
reduce the toll," he said.

Mr Johnson will continue to investigate the remaining 19 deaths. A final
report from all 25 inquests will be available later this year.