EXPAND DRUG-USER TRIAL, SAY AGENCIES

Melbourne's leading drug treatment agencies yesterday applauded the Victoria
Police's extension of a drug-user trial, and urged a further widening of the
experimental program.

The agencies also supported looking at offering the compulsory treatment
program, instead of prosecution, to illict drug users who had already been
convicted of one or two drug offences.

The Salvation Army said the drug diversion pilot program, where novice
hard-drug users receive warnings and treatment rather than being charged,
was ``definitely the right approach''.

A spokesman, Mr John Dalziel, said the move treated drug abuse as a health
problem rather than as a crime.

The Jesuit Social Services offered ``absolute support'', said co-director Mr
Bernie Geary, a member of the Premier's Drug Advisory Panel, which urged the
State Government to take a more progressive approach to combating problems
caused by drug addiction.

``It's a bit frustrating today to see law enforcers making the move that law
makers should be making,'' Mr Geary said. It was only a matter of time
before the pilot program was broadened.

Under the program, which was this week expanded to take in a second police
district, people without prior drug convictions who are caught with small
quantities of illicit drugs other than cannabis are warned and referred to
appropriate treatment programs. But illicit drug use remains a crime.

But illicit drug use remains a crime, and those who fail to adhere to their
treatment programs will be charged.

The number of heroin offences has climbed dramatically in Victoria, with an
87.5per cent jump in trafficking charges, senior police told a public
hearing yesterday. Assistant Commissioner, Mr Bill Severino told
Parliament's Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee that despite a series of
major drug busts, police had no idea of the size of the problem.

Checked-by: Don Beck