$220M PROGRAM FOR DRUG ADDICTS

Up to 300,000 drug addicts could be treated under a $220 million drug
program announced by the Commonwealth at yesterday's Premiers' Conference.

But the Victorian Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, failed to win support for his
proposal for a National Institute of Depression and raised concerns about
the adequacy of the Federal Government's drug funding.

The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, said the new program, combined with the
Government's $290 million Tough on Drugs strategy, represented a massive
commitment to the war against drugs.

Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Mr Howard said his initiative did
not provide a solution ``but it will be another important building block''.
A large slice of the money, $115 million, has been earmarked for a program
aimed at diverting drug offenders into rehabilitation rather than prison.

The Government believes up to 300,000 addicts could receive treatment during
the four-year life of the program.

Other elements of the Federal Government's initiative are:

The prohibition of drugs in schools.

The provision of drug education and resource materials.

A crackdown on drugs in prisons.

Improving the availability of alternative treatments, including the
fast-tracking of the heroin-treatment drug, Naltrexone, on to the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule.

Allocating more resources to cut the drug supply.

Improved drug strategy coordination between governments and agencies.

The carefully worded communique on the package issued by the Prime Minister
and the state and territory leaders reflected disagreements on several
points.

In response to Mr Howard's controversial push for a zero tolerance strategy
for drugs in schools, the statement said it believed there was no place for
illicit drugs in schools, which some would describe as ``a zero tolerance
approach, others would use a different description''.

The meeting also watered down the Prime Minister's drive for the mandatory
referral of many drug offenders to treatment programs. Instead the
communique approved the compulsory assessment of drug offenders, many of
whom would be offered the opportunity for treatment rather than
imprisonment.

The meeting also ``noted'' the Commonwealth's drive to fast-track
consideration of Naltrexone on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule.

Mr Kennett expressed concern at the level of Commonwealth drugs funding.

He said the State Government would consider funding his proposed National
Institute of Depression because he did not want to wait for Commonwealth
approval.

Mr Kennett said heroin trials were ``now off the agenda for the immediate
future''. He said the package was a ``step in the right direction'', but was
concerned that the funds might not be sufficient given their proposed wide
distribution.