Vic: Singer backs drug room plan

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2000
Vic: Singer backs drug room plan

By Nick Lenaghan

MELBOURNE, April 27 AAP - Singer Debra Byrne, a former heroin addict, today backed
a state government plan to set up a trial of supervised injecting rooms for heroin users
in five municipalities across Melbourne.

Ms Byrne, who underwent rehabilitation to kick her addiction 23 years ago, said the
injecting rooms would save lives.

"I'm definitely sure it will save lives. And a heroin user has the right to have their
life saved," Ms Byrne told reporters outside the SouthPort (SouthPort) Community Health
Centre, which runs a needle exchange program.

She denied the proposed trial was a dangerous social experiment that sent the wrong
message about drug use

"I think it's a very dangerous social experiment to allow junkies to sit in Acland
Street, where I live, and nod off on a 35-degree hot day. They're either going to die
of a heroin overdose or dehydration," she said.

A solution to the drug problem had to be found that was safe for users and the public, she said.

"It's something that is in our community, and it's ugly and we don't like it and it's
threatening to the public at times, but it does exist and we have to find a way to live
with it so that it's safe for the users and for the public, and I think we should at least
give this a go," she said.

Her own rehabilitation at Odyssey House following a near-overdose had been very arduous,
but had saved her life.

"I'm here because someone saved my life. ... Odyssey saved my life and a few other
alternative therapies saved my life," she said.

"Hopefully, these places (injecting rooms) may give someone a chance to rebuild their
life again," she said.

AAP nl/er/ps

KEYWORD: INJECT BYRNE

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