EVIDENCE MOUNTS FOR HEROIN TRIALS

Saving young lives should take precedence over ideology.

POLICE are at the coalface of the drugs problem, which is probably one
reason the Victorian chief commissioner of police, Mr Neil Comrie, has
shown more courage and imagination in responding to the drug use
epidemic than have some politicians. Mr Comrie has just announced that
Melbourne's experimental drugs program is likely to be extended and
may be expanded to the rest of the state.

The program, in which new drug users are sent for treatment and
counselling rather than to court, is a new way of tackling the problem
that on early indications appears to have been very successful. Mr
Comrie has also given cautious support to a restricted, scientifically
conducted heroin trial for hard-core addicts.

The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, who continues to oppose free
heroin trials, has announced a $20million increase in funding for the
treatment and rehabilitation of heroin addicts, as part of the Federal
Government's $290million, four-year program of strict law enforcement,
education and rehabilitation. The increase is welcome but, as we have
argued before, the Government's ``tough on drugs'' policy is an
insufficient response to the magnitude of the problem.

Mr Howard remains convinced that free heroin trials send ``the wrong
signals'' to potential drug users.

Whatever signals they might send, the evidence is now compelling that
carefully conducted and monitored trials are effective in minimising
the harm and reducing the crime associated with illegal drug use. Data
from a Swiss trial showed that after 18 months, most addicts were
functioning normally within their families, had better health and were
able to hold down jobs; criminality fell by 60 per cent; and, most
importantly, the number of drug-related deaths in Switzerland fell
from 419 to 196. Preliminary results from a Dutch trial show similarly
encouraging results.

Given such evidence, it is difficult to see what, other than ideology,
causes Mr Howard's steadfast refusal to consider allowing trials of
free heroin here.