HOWARD'S TOUGH ON DRUGS STRATEGY FAILS - REPORT

Deaths from heroin overdose are rising while addicts are starting younger,
says a report card released today - two years after Prime Minister John
Howard scotched a planned heroin trial.

The report from Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform said Mr Howard's
zero tolerance and tough on drugs strategy had failed.

President Brian McConnell said the report assessed the main planks of Mr
Howard's strategy.

The policy of cracking down on drug barons had not succeeded, with overdose
deaths still rising, hitting 832 in 1997, while availability of drugs,
including heroin, was increasing, he said.

And the government's policy of zero tolerance in schools and among children
had failed to stem rising demand for drugs among young people, he said.

Recent figures showed marijuana use among 14-19 year olds had increased from
28.3 per cent in 1995 to 34.6 per cent in 1998.

He said there had been no results on research into rehabilitation while the
policy of the Australian National Council on Drugs reaching all levels of
government and influencing policy was an unknown factor as it was not
transparent.

Mr McConnell said no outcomes had been reported from the strategy to divert
up to 300,000 people to treatment over four years.

"It is two years since he vetoed the ACT heroin trial," he said in an
accompanying statement.

"In that time drug use and overdose deaths have continued to rise.

"Grieving parents must be confused about the compassion of a prime minister
who continually refuses to consider a treatment that saves lives.

"Nothing of what it has done has reduced overdoses."

No school had received funding under Mr Howard's zero tolerance policy in
schools, he added.

"All the money promised has so far produced no result on the bottom line
where it counts."