ADDICTS HARMED BY WAR ON DRUGS

PRIME Minister John Howard's $500 million Tough on Drugs initiative
has led to a rise in surgical amputations and mental illness among
drug users because of a lack of support services for addicts shifting
from heroin to other illicit substances.

A Federal Government report also shows the heroin drought that
followed the anti-drugs initiatives caused some users to switch to the
prescription sedative benzodiazepine, which had caused an increase in
the number of surgical amputations among users. Doctors warn desperate
drug users paying as little as $5 a capsule are injecting
non-injectable benzodiazepines.

They say the practice causes veins to collapse, causing medical
complications such as gangrene and abscesses, increasing the number of
amputations.

Other heroin users began taking amphetamines, which created "rising
problems of violence and psychosis".

The report, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, states
treatment options have been limited with drug treatments for heroin,
using alternatives such as methadone, acting as a "disincentive" for
users of psychostimulants like amphetamines.

Queensland Health latest statistics show rising numbers of
drug-related admissions to mental facilities increasing from 1350 in
1997/98 to 1721 in 1999/2000.

In 1999/2000, there were 1624 amputations in public hospitals in
Queensland, increasing to 1664 in 2000/01.

The mid-term report of the Council of Australian Government's
Initiatives on Illicit Drugs, shows diversion programs were delayed as
governments waited to finalise agreements.

"In sum, progress with the COAG initiatives on illicit drugs has been
slower than expected," the report concludes.

The report notes two attempts to list naltrexone on the PBS have been
rejected, leaving a key goal on the Tough on Drugs initiatives
unfulfilled.

Mr Howard has claimed "for the first time in a big way" a lot of money
has been made available for rehabilitation programs."

Mr Howard has also said the Coalition Government's record funding
under the Tough on Drugs Initiatives has resulted in record illicit
drug seizures resulting in a "heroin drought".

However, Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland chief executive Bob
Aldred said drug services had found it "very difficult" to meet the
demand from addicts using drugs such as amphetamines instead of heroin.

"The Federal Government has claimed credit for the heroin drought but
failed to see its consequences," he said.

A spokesman for Mr Howard said yesterday the mid-term report was
compiled more than 12 months ago and the Federal Government was now
preparing a final report.