FAST TRACK FOR HEROIN DRUG

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday hinted the Federal Government would
speed the approval of the heroin treatment drug Naltrexone for
subsidisation, and reaffirmed his steadfast opposition to controlled heroin
trials.

Mr Howard said he would propose a number of measures to the premiers at
tomorrow's conference, all in keeping with the Government's approach
targeting law enforcement, education and training.

He would focus on areas where there was common ground between the Federal
Government and states.

``The question in relation to Naltrexone is whether its approval on the
pharmaceutical benefits list can be fast-tracked or subsidised and the
Government is examining that at the moment,'' Mr Howard said.

``And I could have something to say about that on Friday at the Premiers'
Conference.''

Naltrexone's manufacturers have not formally applied to have it listed on
the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, which would make it cheaper, and trials
of the drug are continuing. It is understood the Government is examining if
there might be interim trial results which could be assessed to determine
whether the drug is safe and cost effective, the usual tests for PBS
listing.

Mr Howard ruled out federal approval for the importation of heroin to enable
a trial anywhere in the country, a view unlikely to surprise the Victorian
and ACT Liberal governments which want to undertake trials.

He said he would consider a request foreshadowed by the Queensland
Government to trial Buprenorphine for heroin addicts.

But he discouraged expectation of substantial additional commonwealth
funding, saying treatment services were historically a state responsibility
and the Federal Government could not be expected to pick up the tab for
everything.

The Prime Minister's office would not comment on a newspaper report that the
Government was considering compelling people found with illicit drugs to
undertake treatment.

Queensland Labor Premier Peter Beattie said that while his government did
not support heroin trials, such moves in Victoria and the ACT would
complement Queensland's proposed trials of Naltrexone and Buprenorphine.

He said he was confident the premiers could find agreement on funding.