ACT INJECTING ROOM PIPS NSW

The ACT Is Likely To Beat The NSW Timetable And Have A Safe Heroin
Injecting Room By The End Of The Year

The ACT Government will also again attempt to initiate a heroin trial after
being torpedoed by the Federal Government two years ago.

ACT Health Minister Michael Moore said he was delighted with NSW Premier
Bob Carr's announcement of a legalised shooting galleries to be partially
operated by Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital.

Mr Moore said the ACT Government would launch its drug strategy in the next
couple of months, covering health, education and policing as well as a safe
injecting room.

"We see it as a gateway to users. It's about reaching out, bringing them
into counselling," he said.

"The real crunch is that a safe injecting room will help save lives and
help stop the spread of disease.

"The importance of a strategy that covers the broad spectrum cannot be
over-emphasised."

Mr Moore said the ACT was prepared to include a heroin trial in its drug
strategy.

"Perhaps even more radical is the willingness of the ACT to trial the
provision of pharmaceutical heroin to users," he said.