DRUGS HERE TO STAY, CONFERENCE TOLD

MELBOURNE: SOCIETY would never get rid of drugs but should aim to reduce
drug-related harm, Australia's first international conference on drugs and
young people was told yesterday.

The three-day event in Melbourne attracted 650 delegates from all over
Australia and from Britain, Sweden, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, the United
States and the Pacific islands.

Conference organiser Mr Geoff Munro said drugs would not be eliminated
easily from society.

"They are here to stay," he said.

Mr Munro, director of the Youth Drug Studies Centre, said the best effort
would be a collective response from various sectors including education,
drug treatment, law enforcement and drug policy.

"We should be working together to redress drug-related problems," he said.

Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja in opening the
conference, criticised the Federal Government's $200 million four-year Tough
on Drugs strategy launched a year ago.

"The balance is still far too much in favour of law enforcement," she said.
"The spotlight is mounted on a police helicopter and the media glare focused
on the drug pusher - at least in the headlines."

Senator Stott Despoja also condemned "Commonwealth versus State
buck-passing" - for example on the issue of heroin trials - that she said
hindered moves to more progressive approaches to drugs.

Drug abuse was a social and health problem that must be addressed primarily
through medical and social services, she said.

Mr Munro said organisers were confident the conclusions of the conference
would have an influence on governments to make druq policies more
progressive.

Topics covered would also include health and minority group issues.

The Victorian Government, which led Australia with its progressive drug
education programs, was supporting the conference.

Mr Munro said young people were also taking part in student debates, giving
first-hand examples of their experience of drug treatment and education.

The event was the first international conference in Australia to focus
exclusively on the impact of drugs on young people, he said.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst