ANTI-HEROIN DRUG MAY BE SUBSIDISED

The heroin and alcohol addiction treatment drug, Naltrexone, could be much
cheaper within three months.

The drug manufacturer's public relations representative, Hill and Knowlton,
says an application will be lodged on June 4 to have the drug listed on the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which provides a Government subsidy for
prescription drugs.

It is understood the drug will be hastened through the approval process -
normally taking more than six months - and could be available on subsidy by
August 1. The cost of a monthly dose of Naltrexone would then fall from
about $300 to $30.

Naltrexone has been available on prescription since early this year. It
reduces an addict's craving for heroin by blocking receptors in the body and
has been used successfully in detoxification trials.