Vic: Municipalities back injecting plan: Penington

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2000
Vic: Municipalities back injecting plan: Penington

MELBOURNE, April 19 AAP - A proposal to establish supervised injecting rooms for heroin
users had the backing of the municipalities concerned, drugs policy campaigner Dr David
Penington said today.

Dr Penington, today releasing his report on combating the growing heroin problem, recommended
an 18-month trial of supervised injecting rooms.

State Health Minister John Thwaites said today that the Victorian government accepted
the recommendation and injecting facilities were planned in five municipalities: Greater
Dandenong, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Port Phillip and Yarra.

Prof Penington, chairman of Victoria's Drug Policy Expert Committee, said a survey
of those areas indicated approval of trials by an average of 64.3 per cent of people surveyed.

"It ranges from an 80 per cent support in the City of Yarra to 45.5 per cent support
in the City of Dandenong," Dr Penington told reporters.

"In fact, the majority of the votes, if you're looking at support or stronger support,
is there in every single one of those constituencies."

Dr Penington said most people surveyed supported the trials as long as satisfactory
sites could be found.

Support in the City of Yarra was 80.6 per cent; City of Port Phillip, 77.6 per cent;
City of Melbourne 74 per cent; the City of Maribyrnong 57.1 per cent and City of Greater
Dandenong 45.5 per cent.

Dr Penington said full community consultation in the City of Dandenong had not yet
been completed.

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KEYWORD: INJECT PENINGTON LEAD

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