WHY WE NEED A NEW APPROACH TO FIGHT HEROIN

THE escalating use of heroin, flooding into Australia from South-East Asia, is now a huge problem.

The Prime Minister's Tough on Drugs program of two years ago put substantial additional resources into trying to stem the flood and to support other aspects of national drug policy, but the problem gets worse.

Only a small portion of drugs entering the country is found.  Added to this is understandable public concern about the open use of drugs on the streets, with littering of syringes and needles placing children and others at considerable risk.

There is also public concern about crime associated with the illicit drug trade.

Victoria has a higher rate of conviction for drug-related offences than any other state, yet the situation continues to deteriorate.  In any other area of law enforcement or public health, there would be a public clamor for new approaches, yet with drugs many want to watch as things get worse.

The State Government's Drug Policy Expert Committee, which I chair, is strongly of the view that we must trial new approaches, complementary to law enforcement, if we want to have an impact in reducing demand for drugs and reducing their negative impact on our community.

We need much more realistic programs to discourage young people from experimenting with addictive substances.  We have excellent expert advice available on this matter, and later this year we will publish a discussion paper exploring options.  Parents, teachers and many others need good advice.

A second critical issue is to review all current forms of detoxification, treatment and rehabilitation to be sure that when drug users agree to treatment, they can be effectively supported and led through the long, difficult path to rehabilitation.  Many drug users will fail early attempts, but we cannot afford to give up.

The controversial proposal for injecting facilities unveiled yesterday by the State Government expert committee, is not presented as a cure for Victoria's heroin problem - it never has been.  It is part of a set of options to deal with the open drug scene that has been a feature of our city for the past four years, with people injecting and suffering from the consequence of overdoses in public and littering syringes and needles.

The proposal is to get these people off the streets and for their injecting to be in an environment where they can interact with trained professional staff.  Experience in Europe shows that, in due course, a significant number of street users enter treatment and rehabilitation, once trust has been established.

The committee has recommended legislation to provide a framework for a trial of injecting facilities, in locations where there is clear community support.  A process with "planning roundtables" is being put in place so that the alternatives to deal with the open drug scene are examined jointly with police, local government and key community representatives in each of the five areas where the problem is the greatest.  The trial can then be considered in context.

If facilities are established, they should not be in primarily residential areas, not near schools or kindergartens, and not have shop-front locations in public trading areas.  Rather, they should be located discretely, within easy reach of areas of open drug use.  We believe such locations can be identified in each of the five metropolitan areas, if appropriate consultation is undertaken.

Any trial must be subject to rigorous evaluation.  Management of the facilities would involve medical supervision from the Department of Community Services and local community consultation including police, who would have access as needed to the facilities.

Medical and counselling services could be accessed through the facilities, and there would be appropriate professional support to deal with overdoses and to monitor the health of users.

Community attitudes to the facilities would also be evaluated during the trial.  The proposed legislation would have a sunset clause.  Any continuation, based on evidence from the trial, would require fresh legislation.

A professional survey of residents in the five metropolitan regions showed 64.3per cent supporting or strongly supporting the trial, subject to a suitable site having been identified.  Consultation with local government in each of the areas has been in progress for more than three months, although public meetings were stopped by Greater Dandenong Council because of elections.  Consultations and meetings there are now being reinstated.

Victoria Police have worked closely with us and would be active partners in implementing any trial.  Experience gained by both the committee and the Victoria Police through recent visits to facilities to Europe will be helpful in planning smooth running of the trial.

We appeal to the community to face up to this rapidly worsening situation.

I urge Victorians to consider the evidence available in our report and its associated documents at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phd/dpec/index.htm