'GIVE ADDICTS PURE HEROIN'

PURE heroin should be made widely available to addicts in an effort to
combat the increasing number of drug deaths, says a regional health
chief. He also believes cannabis should be fully legalised and sold
through specially licensed premises.

Dr Peter Elton, head of public health for Boltonand Wigan, said the
move would save lives and help to smash the drugs trade.

He suggested addicts would attend clinics up to four times a day for
an injection of diamorphine - pure heroin - while at the same time
having treatment to try to wean them off the drug.

"Many of the health dangers arise from the contaminated drugs
delivered through dirty equipment and variable quality," he said.

Dr Elton said that legalisation of cannabis would have the effect of
allowing a proper policy to be developed in relation to "dope
drivers" and mean that people wanting cannabis would not have to
resort to illegal drug dealers.

Wigan and Bolton Health Authority is considering adopting his views as
policy.