DRUGS FUNDS NEEDED

THE Federal Government's inadequate funding of Customs services was to
blame for an increasing demand for drug treatment centres in NSW, Deputy
Premier Andrew Refshauge said yesterday.

Dr Refshauge said if heroin imported into Australia were caught by federal
Customs, there would not be a problem in the State.

"Heroin isn't made here in Australia, it's imported: and if no heroin was
coming in there wouldn't be a problem," he told journalists in Sydney.

A survey of the big non-government drug treatment centres conducted by the
Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies found 11,680 people would seek
admission to drug and alcohol clinics this year.

Of these, 3392 would be admitted for treatment, while 4796 people would be
turned away.

More than 60 per cent of refusals came about because there were no
treatment places available, the survey said.

But NADA chief Peter Connie said the NSW Government needed to increase
funding for drug education, counselling and treatment programs.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski