DOCTOR TO KEEP DETOX CENTRE

NALTREXONE specialist Stuart Reece yesterday won his battle to keep his
controversial Brisbane drug treatment centre open.

Dr Reece was given 28 days by the Health Department to show cause why he
should not have been banned from prescribing restricted drugs used for
heroin detoxification.

In just over 12 months, the clinic has treated 450 heroin addicts.

Politicians, parents of addicts and doctors staged a protest on Wednesday
outside Parliament house to defend his unauthorised rapid detox methods.

The Health Department backed down yesterday after reaching an agreement with
Dr Reece.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Wendy Edmond said Dr Reece had agreed to
comply with Queensland's laws on prescribing restricted drugs.

"He just signed papers agreeing to follow the best practice procedures. He
will not be using buprenorphine and he will only use rohypnol following
authorisation," she said.

Dr Reece said the department would significantly streamline the application
processes and review the relevant regulation in the Health Act to allow this
to occur.

He said the departmental officials also had agreed to set up an expert
committee to review detoxification procedures.

"It is to be established so that we can reach a consensus for a set of
standards for Queensland so that other doctors don't fall into the hole that
I did, so that we can define best practise guidelines," Dr Reece said.

He said officials also had supported his calls for the Federal Government to
include naltrexone on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and to trial
naltrexone implants.

"At last they are listening to us and taking us seriously and the community
has realised we can have an input in government and we can get the
treatments for our kids ... and turn them around."

Ms Edmond's spokeswoman confirmed a working group of drug dependency experts
would be established and include Dr Reece.

"Queensland Health could have taken up to a year to go through this show
cause form but instead a meeting was called immediately and the situation
has been resolved amicably," the spokeswoman said.