MAYOR BACKS HEROIN TRIALS

Controlled dispensing of heroin to addicts should be trialled in
different locations, including Wollongong, Keira MP and Lord Mayor
David Campbell said yesterday.

``Such a trial could run over a 12 to 18-month period,'' he
said.

But Councillor Campbell stopped short of supporting an illegal heroin
injecting room run by four churches at the Wayside Chapel in Potts
Point, near Sydney's Kings Cross.

With the State Government's drugs summit less than two weeks away, the
Illawarra's five State MPs said yesterday they were gathering
information from counsellors and drug experts to take to the summit.

Cr Campbell said that if controlled dispensing of heroin eliminated
``debris in parks'' such as syringes and implements used for drug
taking then this would be a good step.

Cr Campbell proposed holding a local forum on May 14 at Corrimal
Community Centre before the summit to collect views from drug
counsellors and others.

Kiama MP Matt Brown said he didn't condone anything that was illegal,
such as the heroin shooting gallery at the Wayside Chapel.

``But I understand the concerns they are facing and what they are
trying to do to alleviate the problem of drug addicts in the
streets,'' he said.

Heathcote MP Ian McManus agreed with Cr Campbell that any heroin
dispensing trials should not be restricted to one area such as Sydney
city.

Mr McManus said he didn't believe the Wayside Chapel's heroin
injecting room would resolve the crime problem because addicts ``still
had to buy their drugs''.

Illawarra MP Marianne Saliba said she also was gathering material
before the drug's summit and still had an ``open mind'' about heroin
dispensing trials or injecting rooms.

Earlier this year, Wollongong's methodone clinic unit manager Richard
Carbury said it was time to look at other solutions.

With more than 600 heroin addicts on methadone programs in Wollongong,
including 300 at the Denison St clinic, Mr Carbury said it was time to
trial controlled dispensing of heroin.