Pubdate: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 Source: Australian Associated Press (Australia) Copyright: 2000 Australian Associated Press OPEN FAMILY ATTACKS AGE BAN MELBOURNE: The Welfare group, Open Family, has criticised the Victorian Government's plans for heroin injecting rooms as useless for helping youths tackle a drug problem. Open Family youth worker Jim Markovski today said his organisation was disappointed by the government's decision to ban people under the age of 18 from the injecting rooms. "The safe injecting rooms will be pointless in helping young people in Melbourne as they will not be able to gain access to the safe injecting rooms," he said. "Refusing entrance to young people under the age of 18 at safe injecting facilities is disempowering our young people who are often disenfranchised within our community. "These young people will be discouraged to attend these facilities in the future if they are excluded." Overall, Open Family today approved of the rooms as a positive step in allowing heroin users to inject in a safe environment and receive ongoing help. The government is planning an 18-month trial of five heroin injecting rooms in suburban Melbourne, with the initiative expected to be under way later this year. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D