RMIT SUPPORTS MAYOR ON DRUGS

Students and officials from RMIT University yesterday backed calls by the
Lord Mayor, Cr Ivan Deveson, to debate the introduction of safe injecting
rooms for heroin addicts.

The university's administration took the unusual step of issuing a joint
statement with the student union to back Cr Deveson's stand, saying attempts
to "police, regulate or control" students to prevent them from injecting
drugs had not worked.

Cr Deveson's stand also received support from the Mayor of Maribyrnong, Cr
Sara Coward, who said her city would be prepared to consider controversial
new strategies for attacking its drug problem.

The statements were in contrast to the response of the Premier, Mr Jeff
Kennett, who on Monday took a swipe at Cr Deveson over his proposal for
legal heroin trials in the city, and the claim that Melbourne risked
infiltration by drug barons.

Mr Kennett said he thought the the claim was incorrect, and that if
Melbourne proceeded with a heroin trial on it own, the city would attract a
flood of users from interestate.

Yesterday, RMIT's deputy vice-chancellor (Resources), Dr Peter Frost, said:
"It is encouraging to see that the Lord Mayor is taking a leading role in
addressing this important issue.

"His proposal acknowledges that we have to start thinking of new and
constructive ways of supporting people who are experiencing drug-related
problems."

RMIT's city campus caters for 30,000 higher education and TAFE students.

The president of RMIT's Student Union, Ms Andrea Maksimovic, said it was
important the university took a stand on the issue of drug use among students.

"The proposal for safe injecting rooms not only helps to protect the
community but puts the focus back on the health and wellbeing of drug
users," she said.

Cr Coward said Maribyrnong would be prepared to consider new strategies for
attacking the drug problem.

Addressing a community meeting at the Footscray town hall, Cr Coward said
strategies such as heroin trials and medically supervised safe houses for
heroin users needed to be considered as part of a broader community effort.

"The image . . . of young people partaking of drugs in very downtrodden,
isolated situations fills me with absolute horror," she said

Mr Les Twentyman, an Open Family youth worker, said the nation's drug
policies were "dead wrong".

Mr Twentyman said governments were still focusing on a law and order
approach, rather than setting up new preventive and rehabilitation services
or programs aimed at youth unemployment.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett