Pubdate: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 Source: Australian, The (Australia) Copyright: News Limited 2000 Contact: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/ Author: John Kerin ANTI-DRUG POLICIES HAVE FAILED: UN A HIGH-level UN committee has condemned Australia's $500 million anti-drug effort for failing to curb abuse and trafficking and making illicit drug abuse more socially acceptable. In a damning assessment of Australia's harm minimisation strategy, the International Narcotics Control Board says it has failed to reduce drug abuse and trafficking over the past decade. It warns that promoting an all-in strategy combining the fight against legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco with illicit drugs leads to illicit drug use becoming more "socially acceptable". The report also condemns efforts by some states and the ACT to establish legal heroin injecting rooms, warning such an approach "will not contribute to the reduction of drug abuse and trafficking". The report came as a plan to stage a heroin injecting room trial in the ACT was yesterday effectively shelved until 2002. It followed the breaking of a deadlock in the ACT parliament which threatened to force the Carnell Liberal Government to an election. Plans for supervised heroin injecting rooms in Melbourne and Sydney have also been frustrated. Kim Beazley appealed yesterday for heroin injecting rooms, legalised heroin trials and the use of the anti-heroin drug Naltrexone to be examined in an effort to look for innovative solutions to the problem. But the Opposition Leader said governments had to continue to be ruthless with drug pushers and traffickers. "I'm a bit in the camp now of the people who say . . . I support the task of keeping people alive," he said. Health Minister Michael Wooldridge said last night the report praised Australia's progress in the battle against illicit drugs. "The board welcomed the Tough on Drugs Strategy and expressed confidence in our comprehensive approach to the drug menace, an approach that has combined law enforcement, education, treatment and rehabilitation," he said. Prime Minister John Howard is a strident opponent of both heroin injecting rooms and legalised heroin trials. The board's members visited Australia in April to conduct a review of the nation's anti-drug strategies, with the report formally released by Dr Wooldridge yesterday. While saying harm minimisation policies had reduced certain harm caused by drug abuse, such as HIV and hepatitis transmission, the board said they could have had adverse effects on the social acceptability and prevalence of illicit drug use. - --- MAP posted-by: John Chase