Pubdate: Thu, 04 May 2000 Source: Australian, The (Australia) Copyright: News Limited 2000 Contact: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/ Author: John Ellicott PRESCRIBE HEROIN ON TRIAL: DPP THERE is a pressing need for a trial of medically prescribed heroin, rather than safe injecting rooms, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery said last night. Mr Cowdery said the "Olympic circus" in Sydney had delayed the introduction of the heroin injection room trial in NSW. "Twelve months after the drug summit, and probably hundreds of deaths later, we are little closer to the commencement of operations of a supervised injecting place," he said. "The difficulties being encountered in this area highlight the irrationality of having supervised injecting places, but unsupervised and decidedly unsafe and unlicensed supply of drugs. "There is a pressing need for a trial - not of injecting premises, but of medically prescribed heroin." Mr Cowdery said there was no legal impediment from international conventions for Australia to establish safe injecting rooms. A "properly conducted and supervised clinical trial involving use of an illicit drug" might not be contrary to UN conventions, he said. Community leaders met at the NSW Parliament last night to discuss the outcome of last year's drug summit. St Vincent's Hospital alcohol and drug services director Alex Wodak said the summit had been a success but any judgment on its results should be reserved for a further three years. "One result is clear - the drug summit did not damage the NSW Government politically," he said. "Their political opponents, still supporting a get-tough approach, continue to bump along the bottom. Communities no longer fall for populist rhetoric about drugs." Dr Wodak said the success of the summit would be judged by the amount of money spent to expand and improve drug treatment and prevention. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart