HEROIN ON A HIGH

HEROIN-related emergencies in Brimbank have skyrocketed over the past
five years, new statistics show.

Figures provided to Star show paramedics are attending heroin
call-outs at an average of once every three days.

Paramedics were called to 128 heroin-related incidents throughout the
municipality during 2008-2009.

An ongoing study being conducted by Ambulance Victoria and
Melbourne's Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre showed ambulances
also attended 117 heroin call-outs in Brimbank during 2007-2008.

The latest figures contrast starkly with 2006, when there were 28
non-fatal heroin overdoses within Brimbank, 54 in the previous year
and 68 in 2004.

The news comes after a report into the potential use of mobile,
supervised drug injecting vans throughout Melbourne was released last
fortnight.

The Burnet Institute report said fixed and motorised Supervised
Injecting Facilities (SIFs) have "been unequivocally associated with
reduced public injecting."

"The primary role of SIF staff is to provide education to clients
without directly assisting the clients with injecting their
pre-obtained drugs," the document said.

The report also said Brimbank was in the top four metropolitan
locations for the most frequent heroin overdoses attended by
Victorian ambulances during the first three months of last year.

The Burnet Institute research said reasons to decide SIF locations
included prominent public injecting, high numbers of overdoses in
public places and community concern abut discarded injecting equipment.

A few weeks ago, Star reported Brimbank City Council received 47
calls to collect syringes dumped on private property over the past 12 months.

Several Brimbank residents said drug dealing and using was a major problem.

Renowned youth worker Les Twentyman said a lack of access to jobs and
education contributed to the problem.

"Drug activity in the western suburbs is as bad as it has ever been," he said.

"Imagine what it'd be like today if people weren't injecting in car
parks and squats."

Asip Demiri from the St Albans Trader's Association said he was
worried a SIF vehicle might attract more drug addicts to Brimbank,
but he supported more resources to find out why people used drugs.

"I find syringes in our car park all the time, we need a solution to
get rid of drugs," he said.