NEW COMMITTEE TO TACKLE DRUG WOES

A NEW grassroots committee is being formed to tackle Tasmania's drug
problems.

Yesterday the Tasmanian division of the United Nations Association of
Australia convened a special forum at Parliament House to form the
committee.

UNAA state secretary Pym Trueman said the committee would be statewide
and would involve lawmakers, police, schools, parents, health and
social workers, youth, the media and drug users themselves.

Todd Harper, executive director of the Tasmanian Council on AIDS and
Related Diseases, said all data available showed the state's drug
abuse program was growing while the average age of users was dropping
dramatically.

Mr Harper said the number of syringes obtained by users through needle
exchange programs had risen from 206,000 in 1995-96 to 480,000 in the
first eight months of the current financial year.

Users obtained 1975 syringes through the program daily in Tasmania, Mr
Harper said.

Lianne Barden, Hobart co-ordinator of The Link Youth Health Service,
said those who came to the service for help with their drug problems
included primary students and university students.

"The increasing use and the out-of-control use is speeding the human
cost to devastating levels," Ms Barden said.

Those interested in becoming involved with the committee should
contact the UNAA in Hobart.