HEROIN DROUGHT BRINGS FLOOD OF OTHER DRUGS, REPORT WARNS

The Federal Government was accused yesterday of lying about inroads into
the illicit heroin trade, with a new report warning of a flood of other
drugs, such as amphetamines, into Australia.

Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform president Brian McConnell said
evidence from law-enforcement agencies indicated drug czars overseas had
made a marketing decision to reduce the heroin flow.

Instead, they had decided to target younger drug-users wary of injected
heroin with tablet-based methamphetamines like ecstasy and LSD.

Mr McConnell said Prime Minister John Howard was claiming credit for the
heroin reduction under his Tough on Drugs strategy, when it was really due
to a commercial decision by Asian drug syndicates.

"The Prime Minister and his ministers have said that Tough on Drugs is
totally responsible. We believe that this is not true," he said.

"If we are told lies and untruths by the Prime Minister about this
particular aspect then there are serious implications for the drug policy
of Australia.

"It leaves us at the mercy of the criminal gangs." Mr McConnell said his
organisation had written to Mr Howard to demand an independent judicial
inquiry into the drug problem.

While a fall-off in heroin availability was welcome, with fewer deaths from
overdoses, the amphetamine trade brought with it another set of problems,
such as drug-induced psychosis.

Bill Bush, the author of the report, said federal politicians were dancing
to the tune of the drug lords by ignoring the flood of methamphetamines.

Mr Bush said he had held talks with the Australian Federal Police about his
concerns and would be meeting Commissioner Mick Kelty tomorrow.