'GIVE THE ADDICTS HEROIN'

Three of Australia's top prosecutors urged authorities yesterday to
give addicts free heroin to keep them out of an already-strained court
system.

In a contrast to Prime Minister John Howard's zero tolerance approach,
the Directors of Public Prosecutions from NSW, South Australia and the
ACT called for liberalisation of drug laws.

They said governments should concentrate on curbing the health and
social consequences of drugs, rather than putting users through the
criminal justice system.