HEROIN TRIALS FIT TREATIES: EXPERT

Prescribed heroin trials were not necessarily contrary to Australia's
international treaty obligations as made out by the Federal Government, a
Canadian drug expert said in Perth yesterday.

Professor Eric Single, who spoke at the Australasian Drugs Conference at
the Hyatt, said it was possible to circumvent international drug treaty
obligations if there was political will.

"The treaties provide exceptions, for instance in research," the University
of Toronto researcher said. "These are measures which will save lives and
there is no question of it (as shown) from overseas."

WA Health Minister Bob Kucera told the conference that Federal Government
opposition and Australia's international treaty obligations were the
reasons why prescribed heroin trials did not go ahead in WA.

The State Government supported a trial after it was recommended by the WA
Drug Summit last year. But the State needed the Federal Government to
authorise the supply of heroin.

Professor Single said Canada was about to set up safe heroin injecting room
trials in three cities, including Vancouver, which has one of the highest
heroin overdose rates in the world in a tiny inner-city district.

"How do you tell parents of kids who died that they could not safely
inject?" he said. "If your hands are being tied by treaties then get out of
them."

The WA Government did not support a recommendation by the drug summit for
an injecting room in Perth because of reservations among delegates about
the need for such a centre.

Professor Single said Australia's drugs strategy was generally considered
among the best in the world. He had reviewed the strategy between 1982 and
1996.

Australia's approach to harm minimisation, good research and the
interaction between health and law enforcement agencies was considered
first class.

But his review showed that some agencies lacked accountability. Some
agencies did not know any detail on the programs they had funded.

"There was no single office they could turn to for guidance," Professor
Single said. "There were sometimes 17 different desks without adequate
knowledge of the history."

Outside the conference, Mr Kucera said that the State Government's response
to a task force report on softening cannabis laws would be made within a month.

He confirmed that possession of cannabis would remain illegal.