VIC: More federal drug funding needed, says premier

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-1999
VIC: More federal drug funding needed, says premier

The thorny issue of fighting illicit drugs is set to head the agenda at tomorrow's
Premiers' meeting in Canberra.

Victorian Health Minister ROB KNOWLES says state and territory leaders will be seeking
extra commonwealth funds for expanded drug treatment services and education programs at the
meeting.

He says leaders will also be seeking support for heroin trials at the meeting.

Mr KNOWLES says heroin trials in the ACT and Victoria are not a dead issue despite the
staunch opposition of Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD.

A Melbourne youth worker says a new approach to heroin is needed at the conference
following a report revealing children as young as 12 are injecting the drug daily.

The report, by Melbourne's Youth Substance Abuse Service, says teenagers are trapped in
heroin dependency because they feel help is either not accessible or engaging enough to keep
them.

PAUL MCDONALD, the service's chief executive, says the report should send a clear message
that fighting the drug problem is not just about increasing police and getting people to say
no to drugs.

AAP RTV cmc/imc/lw/am

KEYWORD: DRUGS YOUTH (MELBOURNE)

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