Injectable heroin maintenance has been advocated as a form of treatment for opioid dependence that would attract, and retain in treatment, addicts who have either not sought treatment or who have failed at other forms of treatment, including methadone maintenance. Advocates of heroin maintenance argue that it would increase the proportion of addicts in treatment and reduce heroin use, drug-related crime, and deaths due to overdose. [1]

A 1991 proposal by a Select Committee on HIV, Illegal Drugs and Prostitution of the ACT Legislative Assembly led to a feasibility study for a heroin trial in the ACT. [1] In 1997, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy voted in favour of a heroin trial, but the trial did not proceed, as the Federal Government would not amend legislation to allow heroin to be imported for the trial or allocate funds to monitor the use of heroin in accordance with international treaties. [2]

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