STATES SHOULD FUND CENTRES FOR DRUG USE: CORONER

A coroner today recommended the Victorian government, and ideally all
state governments, fund independent centres for the management of drug
addiction.

Coroner Graeme Johnstone has made a number of recommendations after a
wide-ranging investigation into the first six of 25 heroin-related
deaths in the state.

He will continue to investigate 19 other deaths as part of the
heroin-related overdose project.

Mr Johnstone said there were 49 heroin deaths in 1991 and that figure
had risen to 359 last year, equalling the road toll.

He also recommended a limited trial of releasing to addicts Narcan, a
drug used to treat heroin overdose victims, a system to manage doctor
and pharmacy shopping, and the introduction of a statewide case
management system for addicts.

The project came about after the head of the Victoria Police Drug
Squad, Inspector John McKoy, approached the coroner in 1997 concerned
about the increase in heroin-related deaths in the state and his
inability to deal with the issue.

In his conclusion, Mr Johnstone said the problem of drug addiction,
and in particular heroin-related deaths, was one which was beginning
to tear at the fabric of society.