25 July 2017: Two decades after the Federal Government blocked a heroin trial in the ACT, experts will examine the need for progressive drug reforms in Australia as part of a University of Canberra panel discussion to be held TOMORROW.
Next month marks 20 years since the Howard Government aborted the proposed scientific trial to evaluate the effectiveness of prescription opioids as a treatment for heroin dependence. But the issue will be revisited by experts wanting to start a conversation about progressive drug reforms again, particularly around heroin use.
Heroin Prescription: The Need For Rational Policy will bring together two leading experts in the field, David McDonald, Director of consultancy firm Social Research & Evaluation, and Marianne Jauncey, Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Medical School and the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre of UNSW.
Mr McDonald worked on the report that recommended the Government undertake the heroin trial. He said the proposal was rejected despite strong backing.
Dr Jauncey is the Medical Director of the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. She also represents the advocacy campaign of the Uniting Church in NSW and ACT, which calls for evidence-based drug harm reduction and treatment programs.
The discussion, which is part of the University’s Canberra Conversations series, will be moderated by former ACT Minister for Health and Community Care Michael Moore AM.
- Interviews with Mr McDonald, Dr Jauncey, and Mr Moore can be arranged and they will be available from 12pm.
WHAT: Heroin Prescription: The Need for Rational Policy – UC panel discussion
WHEN: Thursday 27 July, 12.30pm – 1.30pm
WHERE: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre (function room), 180 London Circuit, Civic
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Marcus Butler: 0438 447 810
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362