Pubdate: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 Source: West Australian (Australia) Copyright: 2001 West Australian Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.thewest.com.au Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495 Author: Rebecca Rose SHORTAGE OF HEROIN 'SAVING LIVES' A heroin drought is turning users to other drugs and even treatment to escape their addiction. The shortage of a heroin across the nation is causing prices to spiral and the number of overdoses to fall. The heroin capital of Cabramatta in western Sydney has seen use of the drug plummet as much as 74 per cent as a result of price rises of up to 75 per cent. Before Christmas it took only 15 minutes to "score heroin". Now, an addict can spend up to four hours searching for a hit. In WA the number of suspected heroin overdoses has halved. Users say the price has doubled and even trebled. As more addicts search for treatment or other drugs, experts claim the results shatter the myth that addicts will continue to use heroin regardless of the price and vindicate policies aimed at limiting supply. "The popular wisdom is that because users are addicted, it didn't matter if the price went up - they would just spend more and more money," specialist Don Weatherburn said. "That has not happened." But Dr Weatherburn said it also proved the point of those who advocated better access to rehabilitation as an avenue of escape from the heroin market. "In that regard both sides are right - but all we can say for sure is that the drought has saved a lot of people's lives," he said. NSW Bureau of Crime Research and Statistics surveys show addicts paying more for lower quality heroin since Christmas, a 59 per cent drop in the number of needles and syringes handed out, fewer overdoses and a sharp upturn in those seeking methadone treatment. A worker at the WA Substance Users Association told The West Australian that the drought in Perth had deepened since the end of February and blamed the Taliban confiscation of opium in Afghanistan. But he said there was some movement in supply which suggested the drought might break soon. The National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University also said there were signs that the number of people seeking treatment for addiction had risen - but so had the number turning to amphetamines. Research assistant Kim Hargreaves said WA drug hotlines were taking more calls for help regarding amphetamines and fewer for heroin. Australian Federal Police paraded the second-biggest haul of ecstasy yesterday: 150kg in 430,000 tablets worth more than $30 million found hidden in boxes of marble tiles on a boat which was tracked by Australian authorities from its departure in Malaysia. Five Sydney people and one Hong Kong man were arrested. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth