HEROIN PRICE DOUBLES IN A YEAR

A HEROIN drought in WA has forced users to turn to methamphetamine and a
homemade heroin substitute, according to national research.

Results from the National Drug Research Institute's illicit drug reporting
system (IDRS) reveal methamphetamine use is rising among injecting drug
users, with 92 per cent of those surveyed reporting having used the
substance - a more potent form of amphetamine.

The system monitors the price, purity, availability and use of the four
main illicit drug types - heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis -
by surveying drug users.

The system also has found the cost of heroin has more than doubled in 12
months, with the price for one gram peaking at $750.

Unlike those other States, heroin users in WA who are unable to get their
drug of choice are also using home-bake, a heroin substitute made from codeine.

Institute research fellow Kim Hargreaves said heroin-related deaths
decreased during the six months to June. The reduced toll was probably due
to the drought.

"In 2000, the average price of heroin was $450 (a gram) but in 2001 it
peaked at $750," she said.

"We had 45 suspected heroin-related deaths from January to June in 2000 and
26 in the same period this year," she said.

"And while heroin usage has dropped, conversely there seems to be a
national increase in the use of methamphetamine."

Last year's report had identified methamphetamine use as a growing concern.

"This year, we have seen a further increase in use of methamphetamine in
WA, with 93 per cent of people reporting using it and the trend is
increasingly concerning," she said. "The majority of those surveyed found
methamphetamine easy to get hold of.

"Also of concern is the fact that frequency of use is also increasing. The
average frequency of methamphetamine use has doubled since last year."

She said cannabis use had not changed dramatically but the number of people
who were convicted of cannabis-related offences had fallen.

The study found cocaine use continued to be rare among those injecting drug
users surveyed, though there was a slight rise in the number of people
using it compared with last year.