Pubdate: Sat, 01 Mar 2003 Source: Age, The (Australia) Copyright: 2003 The Age Company Ltd Contact: http://www.theage.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5 BAN DOGS, RELEASE DRUGS: GREENS Drug sniffer dogs should be banned and illicit drugs such as heroin given out to lower crime and overdoses, NSW Greens MLC Ian Cohen said. Mr Cohen has called for a trial to allow registered addicts to access heroin and other addictive drugs through special clinics. "The Carr Labor government must ends its 'war on drugs' in NSW and pursue positive strategies that reduce harm and better manage the supply of illicit drugs," Mr Cohen said in a statement. The plan has been backed by Dr Alex Wodak, director of Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent's Hospital, who said the government's prohibition policy had demonstrated that reliance on criminal law and the police to control drug abuse produced little benefit. Dr Wodak supported the introduction of more proactive harm minimisation policies in NSW. "The 'war on drugs' relies heavily on customs, police, courts and prisons to reduce the availability of drugs, Dr Wodak said in the statement. "This has proved to be expensive, relatively ineffective and often produces serious negative side effects such as ... police corruption." Mr Cohen said drugs were a social issue, not simply a crime problem. The Greens support testing for the quality, purity and potency of illicit drugs to ensure user safety. The trial would be held in conjunction with the statewide provision of medically supervised injecting rooms and expanded needle exchange programs. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek